HYDERABAD: Participants in rallies, demonstrations and seminars held across the province to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday lashed out at the United Nations for turning a “blind eye” to ongoing Indian atrocities in held-Kashmir and the world body’s failure to implement its own resolutions on the 70-year-old issue.

Almost all religious and political parties, civil society organisations, district administrations, public and private educational institutions and trade unions had organised rallies and various other programmes to express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren.

In Hyderabad, almost all rallies ended up outside the local press club where the participants shouted slogans against India while charged activists of Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) burnt an Indian flag.

District administration took out a rally led by deputy commissioner, SSP and other government functionaries. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Milli Muslim League (MML), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Noorani (JUP-N), DPC, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA), Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST), Sindh Inqalabi Party (SIP), JUI-Sami, Sufi Umar Daraz Pakistani, National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony, Citizen Forum, Sunni Rabita Council and others took out rallies.

The parties’ leaders expressed solidarity with Kashmiris in the held-valley and said that India had failed to crush freedom movement in held-Kashmir. They appealed to champions of human rights to help Kashmiris get freedom from India and demanded that Pakistan government and all heads of Muslim countries should raise the Kashmir issue at all international forums.

PPP Hyderabad division also organised a programme at the press club and University of Sindh took out a rally on the campus to mark the day.

DADU: Almost all religious and political parties and civil society organisations took out rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

Rallies were organised by the district administration, students of Ustad Bukhari Degree College, Jamiat Ahl-i-Sunnat, Sunni Tehreek and social media group to mark the day.

A large rally was taken out by PTI in Mehar town which was led by PTI leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi and others.

Mr Jatoi said at the rally UN secretary general should implement resolutions on Kashmir issue and make efforts for ensuring independence of Kashmiris.

He demanded an end to killings of innocent Kashmiris by Indian army and said that it was basic human right of Kashmiris to seek liberty from occupation.

Similar rallies were taken out in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Sehwan, Manjhand, Kotri, Jamshoro and Nooriabad towns.

SUKKUR: Different political, social, religious and civil society organisations held separate programmes in Sukkur and Jacobabad to mark the Kashmir Day.

In Sukkur, PPP, PML-N, PML-F, PTI, JUI-F, JI, JUP, Pakistan Rah-i-Haq Party, Bacha Union, Sukkur Development Alliance, SRC, DPC, Sukkur Motor Works and district administration took out rallies.

In Jacobabad, rallies were taken out separately by JUI-F, PML-N, JI, Hindu General Panchayat, Chamber of Commerce, Imamia Students Federation, Ittehad Ahle Sunnat, TLYRA, Roohani Talaba Jamaat, Qaumi Aman Committee and students of Government Hamidiah High School. Charged protesters also burnt effigies of Indian prime minister outside the press club.

The protesters’ leaders condemned Indian atrocities in held-Kashmir and hit out at UN and international human rights organisations for ignoring the Kashmir issue and demanded the UN should implement its own resolutions on the issue.

Similar rallies and seminars were held in Kandhkot-Kashmore and Ghotki districts.

UMERKOT: The UN and so-called champions of human rights had failed to hear cries of innocent Kashmiri children, women and men braving Indian atrocities in the held-valley but Pakistanis would continue to support their brethren, said JUI-F leader Rashid Mehmood Soomro while leading a rally held to mark the Kashmir Day.

He said that people of Pakistan would continue to lend moral and diplomatic support to Kashmir.

MIRPURKHAS: Social and political organisations, including JI, National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony, Sunni Tehreek, DPC and district administration took out rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

The leaders strongly condemned atrocities by Indian forces in held-Kashmir and demanded the UN implement its resolutions on Kashmir.

THATTA: Members of civil society, activists of socio-political parties and school children took out a joint rally to mark the Kashmir Day.

Led by Thatta DC and other leaders the rally participants started their march from historical Shahjehan mosque and culminated outside the press club after marching on main thoroughfares.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Government officials, teachers and students brought out a rally, which demanded that the UN make serious efforts to resolve the decades-old Kashmir issue.

KHAIRPUR: District administration, Anjuman-i-Tajran, departments of social welfare, revenue and irrigation, Rotary International Club, Indus Resource Centre, scouts, schools, colleges and civil society organisations took out a joint rally to mark the Kashmir Day.

The leaders condemned the tyranny and oppression by Indian army in held-valley and said people of Kashmir should be given their right to self-determination.

BADIN: Several rallies were taken out by religious and political parties, educational institutions, district administration and civil society organisations to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

The leaders said that no sustainable peace could be established in the region until people of Kashmir were given right to self-determination. They urged the West and the US to shun double standards and take a principled stand on the Kashmir issue.

Similar rallies were taken out in Tando Bago, Matli, Talhar, Tando Ghulam Ali, Pangrio, Khoshki, Nindo Shahar, Golarchi, Kadhan, Rajo Khanani, Kario Ghanwar and other towns of the district.

MITHI: Rallies were taken out and different programmes were organised in Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo, Kaloi, Chelhar, Chhachhro, Nagarparkar, Dahli and other towns of Tharparkar district to mark the Kashmir Day.

The speakers urged international community to exert pressure on India to force it to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination.

SHIKARPUR: Activists of JUI-F, JI, PPP, Shikarpur Bachayo Tehreek, Shikarpur Adabi Sangat, Pooj Hindu Panchayat and civil society organisations took out rallies and staged demonstrations to mark the Kashmir Day.

NAWABSHAH: Activists of PST, Jamaat Ahl-i-Sunnat, JI, PTI, TLYRA, Shia Ulema Council, Tajir Ittehad Sindh and Human Welfare Organisation took out separate rallies and held demonstrations to express solidarity with people of Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2018