K-P rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris

Protesters poured into the streets of the province on Wednesday as rallies were organised across the province to express their solidarity with the people of Indian Illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In the provincial capital, the main rally was led by the provincial chief executive while members of the provincial cabinet, MPAs, K-P chief secretary, police IG, and people from different walks of life participated in the rally. Rally participants marched from the Governor House to the Civil Officers Mess in the provincial capital.

Addressing participants of the rally, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan called upon the international community, the United Nations (UN) and other rights organisations to take notice of the brutalities and massacre being carried out by Indian occupying forces against the innocent and unarmed Kashmiri civilians.

The chief minister recalled that on August 5 last year, India had started a new and gruesome chapter of atrocities and tyranny in the disputed Himalayan territory by abrogating Article 370 of its Constitution, which had accorded a special status to Kashmir and limited Indian interference in the former princely state.

Mahmood further condemned the atrocities committed by Indian forces against Kashmiris and reiterated their resolve to continue moral, political, and diplomatic support for the people of Kashmir.

The chief minister said that Kashmiris have been facing a severe lock-down for much of the past year, which was evidence of the aggression and brutality meted out by the Indian government.

He said Kashmiris are not alone in this difficult time and that every citizen of Pakistan supports their struggle for self-determination.

Separate rallies were held by the K-P Rescue 1122, the Bacha Khan International Airport administration and district administration across the province to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2020.