All the major political and religious parties marked the Kashmir Solidarity Day with great zeal while holding rallies, seminars and different camps in the city to show solidarity with the Kahmiri people who are facing state brutality of Indian forces for generations. The chairing cross at Lahore’s Mall Road remained the hub of all the political and religious parties for their rallies as all of them gathered there demanding right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people.
Addressing the workers of Pakistan Peoples Party, provincial general secretary of PPP Chaudhry Manzoor demanded the chairmanship of Kashmir committee of the National Assembly for PPP’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “If the government really wants to highlight the Kashmir issue at the international front then it should immediately name Bilawal Bhutto as the chairman of Kashmir committee because he can plead the case of Kashmir in more efficient way in front of the foreign world as his narrative has a great acceptance in the international world,” he said. PPP’s parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Syed Hasan Murtaza said on the occasion that only PPP has a clear and strong stance on Kashmir issue as party’s founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has the credit to highlight the issue at international front and the incumbent government doesn’t have any strategy on Kashmir.
PPP demands chairmanship of Kashmir committee for Bilawal
Moreover, a camp was also established by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter at chairing cross to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people. Member Legislative Assembly of AJK Ghulam Mohhiyud-din Deewan, PTI’s additional general secretary Ijaz Chaudhry, MPA Sadia Sohail Rana, MNA Rukhsana Naveed and a large number of PTI workers from Lahore also participated in the camp. “The Indian forces are doing act of barbarism with the bloodshed of Kashmiri people in the occupied Kashmir for last 70 years but still the Kashmiris are in high spirit despite such brutalities,” said PTI’s MLA Deewan. He further added that the international community should shun the dual standards now on Kashmir issue and should press for resolving the long pending issue of Kashmir according to the resolutions of United Nations. He was of the view that the destination of Kashmiris is no so far as the government of PTI will keep continue supporting them on all the diplomatic and political fronts to get freedom for them.
Meanwhile, the solidarity camp of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz was attended by MNAs Pervaiz Malik, Waheed Alam Khan, Ali Malik and MPAs Samiullah Khan, Mian Mujtaba, Azma Bokhari, Kh Imran Nazir, and Ghazali Salim Butt. The workers of PML-N were carrying the banners and placards inscribed with the slogans against the Indian atrocities in the occupied Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N’s general secretary from Lahore and former health minister Kh Imran Nazir said that the situation on Kashmir issue would have been different today if military dictator Pervaiz Musharaf doesn’t oust the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1999 by imposing the military rule.
Several rallies organized by Jamat-ud-Dawa, Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah were also held in Lahore.
PTI, PML-N, PPP, TLYR, JI, JuD hold rallies at Mall Road
The Tehreek Azadi Jammu Kashmir (TAJK) arranged Kashmir rally from Istanbul Chowk, Mall Road to Assembly Hall. Students, teachers, lawyers, traders and hundreds of people from all walks of life joined the rally. They carried Pakistani flags, placards, and banners containing text against Indian state terrorism and in favor of Kashmiris. Kashmir Conference was held at Assembly Hall.
Addressing the conference, Ameer Jamaat ud Dawa Hafiz Muhammad Saeed advised Hurriyyat Leaders to promote Freedom movement unitrelessly. He said, “Now, is the time to get the result. Chinab formula, Dividing Kashmir formula or other formulas would not be accepted.”
He asked Modi to leave Kashmir otherwise freedom movement will be continued. “Modi is talking of dialogue. Now, Modi has to take dialogue with Mujahideen (Freedom Fighters). Modi created an uproar of terrorists in the whole world but all in vain. Solidarity with Kashmiris was observed all over the world. ” He further said, “Shimla Agreement is the biggest hurdle in resolving the Kashmir issue. Now, every Kashmiri carries Pakistani flag. Kashmiris would be given self-determination rights according to UN resolutions. If India does not accept the UN resolutions, then Kashmiris and Pakistanis stand against Indian atrocities.”
Secretary-General Jamaat e Islami Liaqat Baloch saluted the brave leadership of Kashmir. He said, “Today (5th of February) is the day of the revival of the oath. Kashmir will be freed soon. The Pakistani nation has proved that they love Islam and Kashmiris”. He advised Pakistani youth to convey Islamic teachings and message of Kashmiris at social media.
Published in Daily Times, February 6th 2019.
