LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq said that the people of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have taken to the street in support of their besieged brethren of India-held Kashmir (IHK), but lamented that Prime Minister Imran Khan is issuing warnings against the protest.

Addressing the ‘Save Kashmir March’ on The Mall here on Sunday, Mr Haq said the prime minister’s advice to the people of AJK against marching towards the Line of Control was tantamount to showing weakness to the enemy. He said the rulers must keep in mind that building high walls was not an option to remain safe from the enemy. He warned that the PM and his aides could not fight the case of Kashmir while sitting in air-conditioned halls and delivering speeches.

Thousands of people holding national and AJK flags and banners inscribed with slogans participated in the rally, which started from Nasser Bagh and culminated in front of Masjid-i-Shuhada on The Mall.

The JI chief said that people were expecting the PM to take the national leadership into confidence on Kashmir after returning from the UN and announce a solid strategy for the future. But, he added, no concrete step was taken in this regard. He said the Kashmiris had sacrificed their present for the future of Pakistan but always received a cold response from the rulers.

JI General Secretary Ameerul Azim, Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch, AJK chapter head Dr Khalid Mahmood, Javed Kasuri and others also spoke.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2019