Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day
The day exposes worst ever oppression perpetrated by India against Kashmiris.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed today (Friday) to express whole hearted support of Pakistani nation to the just struggle of Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination under the UN resolutions.
The day exposes worst ever oppression perpetrated by India against Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
On the occasion, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan will address a public gathering at Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. One minute silence was observed at 10:00 am across the country.
Solidarity walks are being arranged in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and four provincial headquarters. Human chains were formed at Kohala and other important points linking Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Special programs are being broadcasted to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiris of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
President Arif Alvi
In their separate messages on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, the President Dr. Arif Alvi and the Prime Minister Imran Khan have called upon the international community to hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The President said the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiri people is key to durable peace in South Asia.
Calling self-determination one of the fundamental rights codified in the United Nations Charter, the President said the denial of this right and subjugation of Kashmiris is the very negation of human dignity.
He said the demographic apartheid in the occupied territory by the Indian occupation forces is further violation of international law wherein the Kashmiris’ majority is being turned into a minority in its own land.
Prime Minister Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan will remain unshakable in its solidarity with the Kashmiri people until they realize their inalienable right to self-determination.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute support for the Kashmiri brothers and sisters, who continue to be subjected to an inhuman military siege and communications blockade since August 5, 2019.
The Prime Minister demanded India to give access to the international human rights organizations, as well as the international media to investigate the grave human rights situation in the occupied territory.
AJK President Masood Khan
President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan said Kashmir Solidarity Day is the identity of strong bonds between Pakistani and Kashmiri people which is being observed form past decades with great zeal and fervor and it also verily demonstrates the religious, cultural and social identity and strong coordination between Pakistani and Kashmiri people.
The AJK President said that Kashmir people had annexed their future with Pakistan before its existence and we are proud on this historical decision, as the Pakistani nation has never left Kashmir alone at any critical juncture. He said that Pakistani and Kashmiri people are entangled with each other.
He called upon the UN and world powers to feel the pain of Kashmiri people who have been suppressed by Indian occupied forces for last 73 years and has let lose the reign of terror in IOK and demanded to take notice of gross human rights abuses and put pressure on India to stop its violation in IHK and adopt UN resolutions with letter and spirit.
He said that India failed to break the will of Kashmiri people for many decades despite using draconian laws against unarmed Kashmiri people which could not deter them from demanding their birth right, the right of self-determination.
Masood said the sustainable peace in south Asian region is only possible when the long lasting Kashmiri issue would be settled as per the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider
AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan in his message said: Pakistan’s emotional attachment is with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters living on other side of Line of Control (LOC) and is traditionally observing Kashmir solidarity day with great enthusiasm.
He said that the phenomenon of February 5 Solidarity Day is that it is not only observed by Kashmiri people from both sides of the LOC but it is also marked in Pakistan and all over the world by Kashmiri and Pakistani community besides, the other communities with great zest and passion.
Farooq Haider pledged to the Kashmiri people that 220 million Pakistanis, 4.5 million people of AJK and 2 million people of Gilgit-Baltistan are at their back in their just struggle for freedom and told that Kashmiri brothers should never feel themselves alone and assured that the day is not away when they will breath in free atmosphere.
FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan reaffirms its unflinching solidarity with the Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the entire Pakistani nation stands with them in their valiant struggle to secure their inalienable right to self-determination.
He said that for 18 months now, IIOJ&K is under continuous Indian military siege, with Kashmiris virtually caged in their own houses, reeling under communications blockade, and facing severe restrictions on the media.
Following the extremist "Hindutva" ideology, the RSS-BJP regime has also embarked on a design to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory and obliterate the distinct Kashmiri identity.
He urged that the international community to must continue its support of the fundamental freedoms and basic human rights of the Kashmiris. He also urged India to allow the UN Fact Finding Mission to investigate the grave human rights violations in IIOJ&K.
The Foreign Minister said that this solidarity will continue until the Kashmiris achieve their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. He said that his support is the only course to durable peace, security and development in South Asia.
PUNJAB
In Punjab, several government departments are holding Kashmir rallies and gatherings at Divisional, District and Tehsil level. Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar has appealed to public to actively participate in these rallies and gatherings.
He said that these rallies will give a clear message to the Modi Government that Kashmir belongs to Pakistan.
In Provincial Capital Lahore, major and small political parties besides several social, academic and non-governmental organizations are holding Kashmir rallies and gatherings.
GILGIT-BALTISTAN
In Gilgit-Baltistan, protest rallies are being organized in all districts of three divisions to condemn state terrorism and brutalities of Modi government against Kashmiri people.
In Gilgit, main protest rally started from Benazir Chowk which passing through main bazar converted into a public gathering at Attihad Chowck in the city.
