PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, rallies, seminars and other functions were held across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day on Saturday where the participants urged the international community and human rights organisations to take notice of the brutalities being carried out by the Indian government against innocent Kashmiri people in the India-held Kashmir.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with demands for the UN’s intervention to play its role for liberation of Kashmiris from the illegal occupation of India, the participants shouted slogans against the barbaric incidents of human rights violations.

They condemned the prolonged curfew and aggression by the Indian army and asked for an immediate end to the genocide of Kashmiri people.

Waving Kashmiri flags, the people urged the international community to take notice of the violence against the oppressed people, including women and children, in the occupied territory.

Rallies, functions held across KP to show solidarity with Kashmiris

In Peshawar, the main official rally was led by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Governor Shah Farman, which started from the CM Secretariat and culminated at the Governor’s House.

The rally was also attended by the provincial cabinet members, Chief Secretary Shehzad Bangash, civil society members and students.

Talking to mediapersons on this occasion, the governor and chief minister said that the government and public fully expressed solidarity with the innocent people of Kashmir and they stood by them in their struggle for freedom.

They urged upon the international community to come forward and play its role for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. They said that durable peace in the region was linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions.

They said that the right to self-determination and independence was the basic right of the people of Kashmir and the people and government of Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri brothers in their struggle for freedom.

Another rally was organised by Jamaat-i-Islami wherein its chief Sirajul Haq said that it was the time for UN to implement its resolutions on the occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that India was being run by a savage and fascist regime, which was responsible for the genocide of Muslims in India.

He expressed unwavering support and solidarity with the Kashmiris, saying the Pakistani nation fully supported the Kashmiris’ struggle for their right of self-determination and asked the government to avoid double standards about the Kashmir issue.

The KP Directorate of Culture held a seminar and photo exhibition at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar, followed by a rally to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

Pakistan Study Centre of University of Peshawar, Pakistan Thinkers Forum and Press Information Department also arranged seminars and rallies, showing solidarity with the Kashmiris.

The traders’ community held separate rallies while PML-N held a gathering at its provincial secretariat which was addressed by its provincial president Amir Muqam.

Rallies and functions were also held in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Kohat, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Battagram, Mansehra, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, Bajaur and other district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to express solidarity with the oppressed people of India-held Kashmir.

Different government departments, educational institutions, political parties, business community and private organisations played active part in organising functions to draw the attention of international community to the plight of Kashmiri people.

The speakers vowed that the people and government of Pakistan would continue their political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris till liberation of India-held Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2022