KARACHI: Various religious and political parties held rallies and demonstrations across the province on Thursday to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day, voicing support for the Kashmiris’ struggle for their right to self-determination.

In Karachi, the Jamaat-i-Islami organised ‘Kashmir Solidarity Rally’ which was addressed, apart from its senior leaders, by Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin, who reiterated his outfit’s firm belief that Jihad was the only solution to the dispute over the valley.

A large number of people, including women and children, participated in the rally which started from Jail Chowrangi and ended at the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum.

Carrying banners and placards, the participants chanted slogans against Indian forces’ brutalities in the held valley and demanded liberation of Kashmir.

The key feature of the rally was participation of Mr Salahuddin whom India has tagged as the ‘most wanted’ after having declared his Hizbul Mujahideen a ‘terrorist organisation’.

“Jihad is the only solution to the Kashmir issue because India only understands the language of aggression and violence,” he said during his address. “With the help of Allah, we will compel India to withdraw its forces from Kashmir. India has deployed 800,000 army personnel in Kashmir to crush legitimate rights of Kashmiris but it doesn’t know that they [Kashmiris] will never give up their struggle despite double standards of the world powers and the United Nations towards their cause,” he said.

JI secretary general Liaquat Baloch urged Islamabad to restore traditional and unanimous Kashmir policy and take a decisive stance over the dispute so that the people of the occupied territory could get their just rights.

“Peace cannot be restored to the world until the issues of Kashmir and Palestine are resolved. Kashmiris must get their right to self-determination. India has already accepted their right on the floor of the United Nations. All Muslim countries should come forward and play their due role in helping the Kashmir issue resolved,” he said.

Jamatud Daawa, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, All Pakistan Muslim League, besides the JI, held protest rallies and demonstrations across Sindh to mark the day.

People from all walks of life participated in the rallies held in almost all cities and towns, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Thatta, Sujawal and other districts.

The participants condemned India for denying the people of Kashmir their right to self-determination and having unleashed a reign of terror on the valley for decades.

They slammed the UN and the West for their double standards on the issue and urged them to force India to comply with all the UN resolutions on the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.

They also called for an immediate halt to all excesses by Indian forces with Kashmiri people.

The participants vowed to extend all possible support to the people of Kashmir in their struggle for securing their right to self-determination and urged heads of all Muslim states to take up the issue at all forums in order to get the burning issue resolved.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2015

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