Pakistanis rally to show solidarity with Kashmiri struggle
Rallies held in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Muzaffarabad among other cities to express solidarity with Kashmiris.
Protesters at Liberty Chowk in Lahore. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ
MUZAFFARABAD:
Rallies and demonstrations were staged across Pakistan on Wednesday to express solidarity with Kashmiris struggling for independence from India.
In Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, around 1,000 people formed a human chain to express solidarity with what they called freedom fighters in the Indian-administered sector.
In Islamabad around 2,000 people attended a rally organised by the religious-political party Jamaat-i-Islami in front of parliament.
A separate demonstration in the capital was led by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Samiul Haq group (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, who heads a committee set up by Taliban militants for peace talks with the government.
In Karachi, protesters burnt Indian flags and chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Kashmir.
About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 either for Kashmir's independence or for its merger with Pakistan.
Use of force by India in Kashmir has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians. Though the killing has dipped this decade but India says militants inflicted a heavy toll on their security forces in 2013.
Pakistan and Kashmiris stage protest rallies on February 5 every year to express solidarity with the struggle.
Various events were also staged by Pakistani missions abroad to highlight the plight of Kashmiris.
Watch a slideshow of pictures from rallies in Pakistan here.
Rallies and demonstrations were staged across Pakistan on Wednesday to express solidarity with Kashmiris struggling for independence from India.
In Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, around 1,000 people formed a human chain to express solidarity with what they called freedom fighters in the Indian-administered sector.
In Islamabad around 2,000 people attended a rally organised by the religious-political party Jamaat-i-Islami in front of parliament.
A separate demonstration in the capital was led by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Samiul Haq group (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, who heads a committee set up by Taliban militants for peace talks with the government.
In Karachi, protesters burnt Indian flags and chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Kashmir.
About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 either for Kashmir's independence or for its merger with Pakistan.
Use of force by India in Kashmir has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians. Though the killing has dipped this decade but India says militants inflicted a heavy toll on their security forces in 2013.
Pakistan and Kashmiris stage protest rallies on February 5 every year to express solidarity with the struggle.
Various events were also staged by Pakistani missions abroad to highlight the plight of Kashmiris.
Watch a slideshow of pictures from rallies in Pakistan here.