Self-determination: Religious parties hold rallies to mark Kashmir Day

In Mirpurkhas, thousands of students take part in the festival.

HYDERABAD: Religious parties, educationists and civil society members organised rallies on Wednesday to express solidarity with the people of Indian-Administered Kashmir.

The rallies and demonstrations were held in Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Matiari, Sanghar, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad and other districts.

In Mirpurkhas, the Association for Academic Quality organised a student festival to mark the day. Thousands of students from various schools, the district administration officials and educationists attended the programme. The students waved placards inscribed with slogans ‘Kashmir will become a part of Pakistan’.

Mirpurkhas education officer Shafiq Ahmed Khan, while addressing the ceremony, recalled the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris for their right to self-determination. In Sanghar, district education officer Abdul Ghaffar Rajput led a rally outside the press club.

Supporters of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged demonstrations in several districts of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions. JI chief Rashid Naseem recalled at a rally in Hyderabad that late JI leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed had observed the Kashmir solidarity day for the first time in 1990. Hafiz Abdul Rashid of the JuD, at a separate rally, stressed that a negotiated settlement for Kashmir is not possible. Imamia Students Organisation, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Sunni Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad Council and dozens of other religious and political parties also staged demonstrations to express solidarity with the Kashmiris.

Meanwhile, JI Karachi Chapter also held a Kashmir Solidarity rally from Jail Chowrangi to Mazar-e-Quaid. A large number of JI workers including children and elderly men attended the rally. JI secretary-general Liaquat Baloch led the rally while JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, general secretary Abdul Wahab, naib ameers Nasrullah Khan Shajih, Muslim Pervez and others also attended.

Addressing the rally, Liaquat Baloch said that the peace could not be restored in the world without resolving Kashmir and Palestine issues.

With additional input by press release

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2014.