06 February 2005	Sunday	26 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Feb 5: Like elsewhere in the country, Kashmir Day was observed in Karachi with the pledge that people of Pakistan would continue to extend their wholehearted support to the just cause of the people of the Kashmir who are striving for their just struggle.

A grand rally was taken out at the Mazar-i-Quaid which was addressed by the Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and the City Nazim Niamatullah Khan.

Speaking at the rally, the chief minister said that Kashmir is the lifeline of Pakistan and Pakistani people fully share joys and sorrows of their Kashmiri brethren.

Dr Arbab said that the government would not backtrack on the issue as all political parties are united on this issue.

He told the rally that President Pervez Musharraf was all out to resolve this issue in accordance with the UN resolutions and as per aspirations of the Kashmiris.

Dr Arbab expressed hope that the Kashmir issue would resolve under the able leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

City Nazim Niamatullah Khan said that the issue of Kashmir would have to be resolved in accordance to the wishes of people of the valley. Kashmiris had started struggle for their freedom on Feb 5 and it would continue until Kashmir becomes the part of Pakistan.

Niamatullah Khan said that the Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru always boasted that he would abide by the UN resolutions, but India always defied the same.

He stressed that differences should be given up and solidarity be expressed with the people of held Kashmir.

People belonging to all walks of life attended the rally, including provincial ministers Rauf Siddiqi, Altaf Unnar, Syed Ali Bux Shah alias Pappoo Shah, Advisor Aijaz Shah Shirazi, Syed Manzoor Shah, PML's Additional General Secretary Sindh, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, Dr Badar Channa, City Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, DCO Karachi Fazlur Rehman, EDOs of various departments of the city government, nazims of various towns and union councils, leaders and workers of various political parties, heads of various educational institutions, students and others.

Earlier rallies were taken out from various towns which joined the central rally. The rally participants were carrying banners and chanting slogans to express solidarity with the people of the occupied Kashmir.

CONFERENCE: Revival of democracy in Pakistan will greatly help in solving the Kashmir dispute, as a truly elected and representative government can take a firm stand on the issue with India and the rest of the world, said speakers at a conference held here on Saturday.

The conference on "UN Resolutions- A Just Solution of Kashmir Issue" was organized by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Jammu Kashmir (JUJK) Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, senior vice-president Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP) and central leader of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MMA), MNA Dr Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair, said that the government should put its Kashmir policy on the right track by sticking to its just demand that Kashmiris be given a plebiscite right, and political parties should also unite for patronizing the struggle of Kashmiri brethren.

He said that the Muslim rulers should lend an ear to the calls of oppressed Kashmiri nation.

Criticizing the government's policies, Dr Zubair said that "the rulers have taken a U-turn from our just stance on the Kashmir issue and bent down before India. We have ended supporting Jihad going on in the valley and are terming Mujahideen terrorists just on the US provocation.

This attitude will never propel us to the solution of Kashmir issue." Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh Secretary General Nafees Siddiqui said that the Kashmiri people should be given right of plebiscite and Pakistan should be strengthened by restoring democracy in the country so that we could firmly support the Kashmir movement.

Sajjad Mir, senior vice-president Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML- N) Sindh Zahid Rafiq Butt, Chairman, Markazi Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Pakistan Mufti Munibur Rehman, senior vice-president JUJK Karachi Muhammad Jehangir Khan also spoke.

A resolution was also adopted by the conference, demanding that Gilgit and Baltistan be declared a part of Azad Kashmir.-APP/PPI