KARACHI: Rallies, seminars and conferences were held across Sindh on Tuesday to mark Youm-i-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation), commemorating the sixth anniversary of the revocation of the Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status by India.

The events were organised to express unwavering solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

In Karachi, political parties, student groups, labour unions and civil society organisations held various events to condemn the Indian government’s actions in Kashmir and to support the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

Sindh government ministers expressed strong optimism that the occupied Kashmir would soon get freedom.

Addressing a rally, ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani and Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah cited the recent military success against India and described the leadership of Field Marshal General Asim Munir and the diplomatic efforts of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as a driving force behind Pakistan’s triumph.

They claimed that India had been internationally humiliated and was now being compelled to consider dialogue after it suffered setbacks.

A big rally was taken out from Peoples Chowrangi which concluded at Mazar-i-Quaid. The participants waved Pakistani and Kashmiri flags and displayed portraits of Kashmiri freedom fighters. A large number of students participated in the rally.

The senior officials in attendance included Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Saleem Baloch and Karachi Commissio­ner Syed Hassan Naqvi, among others.

Mushaal Mullick, the wife of incarcerated Kashmiri freedom movement leader Yasin Malik, paid a visit to the Quaid’s mausoleum to offer fateha and later spoke at a seminar at the University of Karachi. In her address, she highlighted the continuing sufferings of the Kashmiris under Indian rule and called for stronger global advocacy on their behalf.

The Jamaat-i-Islami held a walk along University Road, where party leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensure continued moral, legal and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause.

LARKANA: Similar events were held in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts.

The main ceremony was held at Govt Pilot Higher Secondary School where the national flag was hoisted. The school’s scout band played the national anthem.

A walk was held in Larkana city which started from school and after passing through main roads of the city, it culminated at the SSP Chowk.

Rallies were taken out in all talukas of Qambar-Shahdadkot district to express solidarity with the Kashmiris and condemn the Indian atrocities.

SUKKUR: Rallies were taken out in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Ghotki and Khairpur districts.

A rally was staged from Municipal Stadium to Sukkur Press Club in the lead of Deputy Commissioner Nadir Shahzad Khan. Prominent officials of the administration participated in the rally.

Political, social and religious parties besides a large number of teachers, along with students from various government and private schools, civil society members and citizens also joined it.

The participants were raising slogans such as ‘Kashmir will become Pakistan’, ‘Long Live Pakistan’ and ‘We are Allies of Kashmiris’.

Another rally was organised by the Jacobabad district administration which was led by Deputy Commissioner Nawab Sameer Hussain Leghari. It started from the DC Office.

Officials from various departments as well as leaders of political, social, religious organisations, businessmen’s associations, joined ordinary citizens in the rally.

It marched through different city routes before reaching DC Chowk to hold a demonstration.

The Khairpur district administration, in solidarity with the Kashmiri people, organised a grand rally under the slogan ‘Kashmir banay ga Pakistan’.

Led by Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Hussain Rahujo and SSP Hassan Sardar Niazi, it proceeded from Maryam Taup to Sachal Auditorium.

The rally saw a large participation of high-ranking officials from over 60 government and non-governmental organisations besides a large number of people from different walks of life.

At the main ceremony in an auditorium, one-minute silence was observed to condemn the Indian atrocities committed against Kashmiris.

UMERKOT: Rallies were held in various towns, including Umerkot, Kunri, Samaro and Pithoro, in which a large number of government officials, students, teachers and citizens participated.

In Umerkot city, a major rally was staged by the district administration from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office to the local press club.

In Kunri, another rally was held from Qazi Sultan Higher Secondary School to Allah Wala Chowk.

BADIN: Youm-i-Istehsal was also observed in Badin, Golarchi, Tando Bago and other towns of the district to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

A rally was held from Allah Wala Chowk to Shaheed Mohta­rma Benazir Bhutto Chowk.

Another rally was taken out from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chowk.

Imran Ayub in Karachi, M.B. Kalhoro in Larkana, Waseem Shamsi in Sukkur, AB. Arisar in Umerkot and Mohammad Hashim Khan Bhurgari in Badin contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2025