February 02, 2007	Friday	Muharram 13, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Elaborate arrangements have been made to observe Kashmir solidarity day on February 5 with traditional zeal.

Chairing an inter-provincial and inter-ministerial meeting to review and finalise the programmes for the day, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA) Major (retired) Tahir Iqbal said Kashmir solidarity day would be observed this year with renewed spirit and greater emphasis to re-assert Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris and to ensure worldwide projection of Kashmir dispute as an international human right issue.

The Minister said that the need for highlighting the Kashmir issue in its true perspective at all the occasions and through all the forums has become even more critical because the time for final resolution of Kashmir issue has now arrived. He said although Kashmir issue had been recognized globally and the Indians had been brought to the negotiation table, the dispute still exists and the world leaders must realize that its resolution was vital to peace and security of the South Asian region.

This year elaborate programmes had been chalked out for the Kashmir day. The programmes would be organized at the federal, provincial and district level, and in the AJK, for which all the arrangements had been made.

A detailed presentation was given during the meeting in this regard. February 5 has been declared as a national holiday. The nation would observe a five-minute silence at 10 am on the day to honour the Kashmiri Shuhada.

Kashmir convention would be held at the National Library where either President General Pervez Musharraf or Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would be the chief guest and participated by Federal Ministers, President AJK, PM AJK, parliamentarians, diplomats and AJK council members.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is also scheduled to address the joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Council on February 5, 2007 at Muzaffarabad.

Furthermore, Kashmir Lok Virsa would host cultural festival and Pakistan National Council of Arts would organise painting exhibition at the Community Centre.

A solidarity walk led by the members of special committee on Kashmir and other prominent personalities would be held in the morning from China Chowk to the parade avenue.

The Government of AJK and provincial and district governments have also arranged rallies, picture exhibitions, debate competitions, sport events which would be participated by the Ministers, political leaders and district Nazims.

APHC leaders from both sides of the Line of Control would participate in these functions in all the provinces.

Like every year human chain of hands will be made at Kohala and live transmission and special programmes on TV and radios will be telecast to mark the occasion.