Kashmir Solidarity Day observed across province

Leaders of religious parties criticise Western countries for failing to resolve the dispute.

MINGORA/ ABBOTABAD/ PESHAWAR: Rallies were taken out by various religious parties across the province on Thursday to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed every year to express unity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir.

People from all walks of life came out on the streets in support of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and to protest atrocities committed against them by the Indian forces.

Peshawar

The provincial culture department arranged a ceremony at Nishtar Hall to mark Kashmir Day. Leaders of different political parties attended the event which featured a tableau presented by school students on the Kashmiri people’s plight.

“The international community helped in arranging a plebiscite in Sudan and East Timor, but it has failed to do the same in Kashmir for more than 65 years even though the issue is on the UN’s agenda,” said Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) K-P chief Professor Ibrahim while addressing the gathering.

According to Ibrahim, Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein and the occupied country’s people are fighting for independence. “Kashmir’s liberation is not possible until the Pakistani leadership abandons its hypocrisy,” said Ibrahim, adding Pakistani rulers follow US diktat and take u-turns on policies to suit US interests.

Separately, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) took out a rally to observe Kashmir Day. The march, which was led by Maulana Ismail Dervish, began from Masjid Khulafa Rashidun and ended at Chowk Yadgar.

Banned outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) also arranged a rally which began from Fowara Chowk and passed through various cantonment areas before stopping at Aman Park near Peshawar Press Club. Addressing the participants, JuD leader Maulana Nasr Javed termed Indian rule on Jammu and Kashmir “barbaric.”

All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders Sayed Ali Shah Gillani and Asiya Andrabi also addressed the rally via telephone. “Kashmir has been turned into cantonments and thousands of innocent people have been killed. They have also destroyed the natural beauty of the valley and captured people’s lands,” said Gillani.

Hazara

Rallies were taken out by workers of JI, JuD, ASWJ and Jamiat Alhe Hadith in Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan and Abbottabad in support of Indian-occupied Kashmir. The participants chanted slogans against human rights violation by Indian forces and criticised the UN and Western countries for failing to hold a plebiscite in occupied Kashmir in line with the requirements of UN resolutions.

In Haripur, a programme was organised by the district administration wherein schoolchildren presented songs and speeches highlighting the Kashmir dispute. The DC, assistant commissioner and leaders of religious parties attended the event.

Mingora

Students and teachers of government and private schools took out a rally from various parts of Mingora which culminated outside Swat Press Club. The participants chanted slogans in favour of the people of Kashmir and demanded the issue be resolved by the international community soon.

“Freedom from India is the right of Kashmiri people,” said EDO (education) Muhammad Gul in his address.

Similar processions were reported from Charsadda, Mardan, Kohat, Swabi, DI Khan, Bannu, Dir, Hangu, Chitral and other districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2015.