Kashmir Solidarity Day observed

ISLAMABAD: The Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed across Pakistan and the world on Friday to record protest against the Indian atrocities in Held Kashmir and to show solidarity with the Kashmiris.

The day was marked to highlight the Kashmiris’ cause and the need for resolution of the longstanding dispute as per their aspirations.The day dawned with special prayers at mosques for the freedom of the Kashmiri people and their emancipation from Indian subjugation. One-minute silence was observed at 10:00am to pay tributes to the Kashmiri martyrs.

Human chains at Kohala and Mangla bridges and other points linking Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were formed. Rallies, public meetings, functions and seminars were held across the country to highlight the Indian brutalities in the Occupied Kashmir and different aspects of the dispute.

These events were also aimed at drawing the attention of the world community towards the plight of the people in the occupied territory. Almost all the political parties and religious organisations held separate rallies in different cities of the country.

The participants urged the world community to play its role to resolve the issue and enable the Kashmiris to exercise their right to self-determination.

In Muzaffarabad, a special session of the Kashmir Committee was held with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, as the panel members also submitted a memorandum to the UN observers.

In his message, former president Asif Ali Zardari has stressed the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute peacefully to ensure lasting peace in the region.

He said, “We express our unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the just struggle of our Kashmiri brethren for their right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions.”

He said Pakistan remained firmly committed to finding a just and peaceful solution of the dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. The freedom struggle of Kashmiris could not be suppressed by using brutal force by India in the Occupied Kashmir, he added.

Similarly, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said it was a failure of the international community that the Kashmiris were still deprived of their right to self-determination.

He said that both India and Pakistan were democratic countries and, therefore, they should solve the issue through negotiations.