PESHAWAR: Rallies were held in various towns on Friday to express solidarity with Kashmiris and condemn New Delhi’s withdrawal of special status of India-held Kashmir.

The Hindu community of Peshawar held a protest demonstration against the violence against Kashmiris and expressed solidarity with the innocent people of the occupied valley.

The protesters gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club led by members of the coordination committee of Peshawar-based Hindus.

They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the Indian army’s atrocities on Kashmiris.

They were shouting slogans in support of the Kashmiri people and demanded of the international community to raise voice against the Indian government for killing innocent people.

The protesters demanded of UN to play its role effectively and resolve the Kashmir dispute as per its resolutions.

In Torghar, the people took to the streets to express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren.

The participants of rally, which was taken out from the central bazaar in Judbah, the district headquarters, marched through various roads, holding banners and placards and raised slogans against Indian forces for committing genocide of Kashmiris.

The officials and officers of health, education, police and other departments also largely showed up in the rally.

In Bajaur, rallies were held to show solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.

The main rally, which was led by additional deputy commissioner Mehmood Ahmed Khan, was held in civil colony Khar and attended by officials of the district administration and students in larger number.

Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against India and in support of the people of occupied Kashmir, the protesters marched through the Khar Bazaar.

The protesters condemned the Indian government for lockdown of the held valley for last 40 days. They said the unjustified curfew and lockdown in occupied Kashmir had only exposed the real face of Indian government.

They flayed the International community for being silent over the Indian forces’ brutalities against the people of Kashmir.

In Shangla, rallies and protests were held across the district to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

The main protest was held at the district headquarters, Alpuri, led by assistant commissioner Fidaul Karim.

Rallies were also held in Puran, Chakesar and other areas.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2019