MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 5: Thousands of people staged rallies, attended public meetings and formed symbolic human chains across Azad Kashmir on Tuesday to express solidarity and unflinching support to their brethren fighting for freedom on the other side of the cease-fire line.

Though the main event of the day was the address of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to the joint sitting of the AJK legislative assembly and the AJK council, largely-attended functions held at six points forming the Azad Kashmir border with Pakistan were also an important part of the Solidarity Day celebrations.

At these functions, human chains were formed by people of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan to confirm yet again the bonds of unity and affection with which the two were bound.

The major function was held in the town of Kohala, some 35km south of here, where hundreds of people held a rally, which was addressed by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and others.

AJK and Pakistani flags and different banners depicting the plight of the struggling Kashmiris and expressing solidarity with them were also put on display at the venue of the rally.

Kohala is the same town where two years ago the then AJK president Sardar Ibrahim Khan had handed over 23 Kashmiri orphans to the government of Pakistan at a colourful function the same day.