City observes Kashmir Day with rallies

Seminars, speeches, poster displays highlight atrocities of occupation forces in IIOJK

KARACHI:

Rallies, events, and gatherings were organised in connection with Kashmir Day to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people on Wednesday.

The events reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to supporting Kashmiris' right to self-determination and opposing Indian occupation.

In Karachi, a rally followed by a central ceremony was led by Sindh Minister for Education Sardar Ali Shah. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Geographically, Kashmir is part of Pakistan. Despite years of oppression and tactics employed by India, the Kashmiri people have consistently refused to accept Indian dominance." The Kashmir region is part of the Indus Valley, he reminded.

The rally was attended by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh Najmi Alam, Hurriyat leader from Azad Kashmir Syed Muhammad Naseem Yousuf Bukhari, Commissioner Karachi, political leaders, civil society representatives, social figures, students, and a large number of citizens.

The rally began at the People's Secretariat and concluded at the Mazar-e-Quaid, starting with two minutes of silence. Participants carried Kashmiri flags and banners of solidarity, chanting slogans such as "Kashmir will become Pakistan" and "We stand with the Kashmiris."

Addressing the gathering, Hurriyat leader Yousuf Bukhari stated: "The bond between the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan is based on faith and the vision of Quaid-e-Azam. The people preferred to sacrifice their lives rather than accept India. Over 600,000 Kashmiris have lost their lives, yet India has never been able to conquer Kashmir through force or greed, nor will it ever succeed."

Many other political and religious parties staged rallies across the city. Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sunni Tehreek, TLP, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, MQM-P, PPP and Kashmiri groups were out on the streets to highlight the Kashmir issue.

"MQM-P is historically connected to the Kashmir cause. Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of Pakistan and the heirs of the founders of the nation assert that indepence is incomplete without Kashmir," said Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui addressing a Kashmir Day gathering at the park next to the party's temporary headquarters in Bahdurabad.

Separately, thousands of Karachiites marched in the rally of Jamaat-e-Islami to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Illegally Indian-occupied Kashmir (IIOJK) and to observe the annual Kashmir Day, here on Wednesday.

The march was taken out from Jail Chowrangi to the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. JI Pakistan Deputy Ameer Liaquat Baloch delivered the presidential address.

In his address, Liaquat Baloch said that the global community needs to realise that Palestine belongs to Palestinians and Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris.