February 06, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 27, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 5: The Jamaat-i-Islami expressed complete solidarity with the people of Kashmir by staging an impressive rally on new M.A. Jinnah Road on Tuesday.

Addressing the participants of the rally near Globe Chowk, JI leaders said that peace could not return to the region until the core issue of Kashmir was resolved in accordance with the UN resolution. They demanded the right of plebiscite for Kashmiri people and said that India created hurdles in its peaceful solution.

Holding banners and party flags, the participants of the rally earlier marched from Jail Chowrangi to the Quaid’s mausoleum in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day. They also shouted slogans against the policies of the government.

JI Deputy Chief Professor Ghafoor Ahmad said the fact that the entire nation had taken to the streets proved that each and every individual supported the cause of the ongoing struggle in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that India had unleashed a reign of terror for the last six decades against unarmed and oppressed Kashmiris.

More than 700,000 Indian troops deployed in occupied Kashmir had miserably failed to force the innocent people of the valley to surrender during the last 10 years. Despite the killings of over a hundred thousand Kashmiri people, the Indian army failed to suppress their struggle.

He criticised President Musharraf for deviating from the principled stand of Pakistan which had harmed the cause of Kashmiri people.

Referring to the suicide attacks every now and then, Prof Ghafoor said that the country was echoing with blasts today just because Pervez Musharraf toed the US agenda as before him no one had heard such blasts.

He also accused Mr Musharraf of misusing the armed forces by pitting them against their own people and said this policy had damaged the goodwill of the army.

Demanding an end to the ongoing army operation in Waziristan, Wana, Swat and Balochistan forthwith, he underlined the need for resolution of all issues through talks.

JI Secretary-General Syed Munawwar Hasan said as attempts were being made all over the world by imperialist forces to push Muslims to the wall, Mujahideen fired with the spirit of martyrdom had taken up the challenge despite their Muslim rulers were implementing US agenda.

He asked General Ashfaq Kiyani to restore the prestige of Pakistan Army by withdrawing forces from civilian areas, ending the ongoing military operation and extending an apology to the nation, particularly the parents of Jamia Hafsa students for mistakes.

Rejecting the present government policies on the issue of Kashmir, Mohammad Hussain Mehanti demanded that the nation be informed about the progress made so far by adopting confidence building measures.

Siddique Rathore, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Shikh Rafique Ahmad, Nasrullah Khan Shaji, Yusuf Munir and Aminullah also spoke.

Earlier, the JI women wing organised a conference on Monday at Idara Noor-i-Haq which was followed by a women’s rally on new M.A. Jinnah Road to express solidarity with Kashmiri people who were striving to get their right of plebiscite to determine their future.

Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed in his telephonic address from Lahore to the party’s women workers, accused Gen Musharraf of taking a U-turn on Pakistan’s Kashmir policy and asked him to step down forthwith.

He also demanded setting up of an interim government in consultation with all political parties to hold free and fair elections in the country. He also called for reinstatement of all deposed judges and restoration of the constitution to its 1999 position.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed was of the view that formation of an independent election commission was essential to transparent elections.

Later, the JI women workers took out a rally to express solidarity with Kashmiri people in their struggle against the Indian occupation forces. The participants carrying placards and banners marched on New M. A. Jinnah Road.

JI Secretary-General Syed Munawwar Hassan addressed the rally and demanded a halt to the military operations in Waziristan, Swat, Balochistan and other parts of the country.