ISLAMABAD: The last Kashmir Day before the general elections witnessed individual show by religious and political parties instead of a collective display against the brutalities in India-held Kashmir (IHK).

Monday’s key event was a rally organised by the Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC) near Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat instead of the expected ground facing National Press Club (NPC).

The venue shifted around 100 metres away as the area around the NPC was occupied by the Mehsud tribesmen protesting against the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud in an alleged encounter with SSP Malir Rao Anwar.

The DPC rally was addressed central leader of the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) Prof Abdur Rehman Makki, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Islamabad Bar Council President Riasat Ali Azad, Jammu Kashmir Movement’s chairman Haji Muhammad Ashraf and the leader of the traders’ community in the federal capital Ajmal Baloch.

Since the main DPC programme related to Kashmir Day was held in Lahore, the central leader of its key parties, including Jamiat Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S) Maulana Samiul Haq and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed leader of the JuD did not arrive in Islamabad.

However, the other two key components of the DPC including the Jamaat-i-Islami and proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) did not participate in any of the DPC rallies.

While, the ASWJ seems to have parted from the DPC, the JI held its own Kashmir Day rally across the country.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2018