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| February 5, 2002 | Tuesday | Ziqa’ad 21, 1422 |
‘Pakistan to continue support to Kashmiris’
ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Pakistan will continue its moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiris till they succeed in their just struggle, the minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Abbas Sarfaraz Khan, said.
In his message on the eve of Kashmir Solidarity Day, the minister said February 5 was observed in Pakistan and throughout the Islamic World as a day to express unequivocal support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who were waging a relentless struggle for the achievement of their right to self-determination.
The minister hoped that the world’s conscience which had been shaken by continued repression of the Kashmiris would not go unnoticed.
It was on February 5, 1947, when the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a referendum in the occupied Kashmir to determine the wishes of the people of Kashmir as to which country i.e. India or Pakistan they wanted to join, he said.
He said Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had repeated the Indian promise several times, but, later reneged. Since then the Indian occupation forces have ruthlessly crushed any voice which was raised by the Kashmiris, he added.
The struggle of the Kashmiris for the attainment of right to self-determination continued unabated for five decades, but, since the last decade, the struggle for their rights gained momentum, he said.
Mr Sarfaraz said the international community should focus its attention on the atrocities being committed in the occupied Kashmir. He said international observers, the world press and leaders from every country should direct their attentions to the five decades old issue so that the Kashmiris could live with dignity and honour.
Meanwhile, arrangements have been finalized to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day in a benefiting manner on February 5.
A meeting was held in this regard on Monday which was presided over by the deputy commissioner Islamabad. It was also attended by officials of the police, CDA, Federal Directorate of Education, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the traders’ associations.
The meeting decided that the district administration and the CDA would organize a walk at Jinnah Avenue which was likely to be participated by a large number of people belonging to different walks of life.
The walk will start from China Chowk at 3:30pm and culminate at Parade Ground.
The education minister, Zubaida Jalal, and the population and women development minister, Dr Attiya Inayatullah, will lead the rally. They will also present memorandums at the UN office.
Soon after the walk, a Kashmir Solidarity Show will be held at the Parade Ground at 4pm.
Various small rallies will be staged by students of government and private schools, labourers, workers, lawyers, peasants, NGO officials and teachers. These rallies will join the main rally at China Chowk.
The solidarity show, which will be one-hour long, will be televised live by Pakistan Television (PTV). National songs, tableaus and other programmes will be presented by schoolchildren, a source told Dawn.
Both federal ministers and leaders of Muslim Conference, lawyers and traders will deliver speeches on this occasion.
A separate meeting was held here at the ministry of Kashmir Affairs to finalize solidarity programmes to be held throughout the country.
The meeting was presided over by the secretary of Kashmir Affairs ministry.
The meeting was informed that President Gen Pervez Musharraf would speak to members of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on February 5.
It was decided that rallies and other solidarity programmes would be held in all four provinces of the country.
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