MUZAFFARABAD: For the first time in several decades, almost entire political leadership of Pakistan, including the president and the prime minister, will visit Azad Jammu and Kash­mir (AJK) on Friday (today) to attend and address events planned to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Traditionally, the main event of the day has always been a special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad, which is addressed either by the president or the prime minister of Pakistan.

On February 5 last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan had addressed this special session while in 2019 Presi­dent Dr Arif Alvi was the chief guest on this day.

However, this year, PM Khan will be addressing a public meeting in Kotli and President Alvi will address the assembly session in Muzaffarabad to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day.

The AJK chapter of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has organised the event in Kotli. “On Friday, Prime Minis­ter Imran Khan will not only express support and solidarity with the valiant Kashmiris struggling against oppressor India in the illegally occupied territory but also with those [AJK] people who have been braving Indian aggression along the LoC,” PTI’s regional president Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry told Dawn by telephone.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Pakis­tan Democratic Move­ment will address a public meeting in Muzaffarabad, at a playground in the heart of the city.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2021