He was addressing a big rally taken out in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day, from the Mazar of the Quaid-i-Azam here on Monday.
The chief minister said that peace would not be possible in South Asia until the Kashmir dispute was settled. He said that mere promotion of trade ties could not help improve the relations between Pakistan and India.
Kashmir, he pointed out, was a flashpoint and once this issue was resolved, the two countries spending so heavily on their defence programmes would be able to curtail their defence expenditure and instead focus on poverty alleviation.
He said the issue of Kashmir could not be settled unilaterally. It will have to be solved in accordance with the wishes of people of Kashmir.
The present government, he said, had taken various initiatives and made strides for solving the long-standing issue under the guidance of President Pervez Musharraf and started the CMBs in this regard to build conducive environment. The government opened up its border at three places and spent Rs2 billion to launch the Khokhrapar Express.
Dr Rahim said the hearts of people of Sindh beat along with those of their Kashmiri brothers and they had always shared their pains and agonies.
In this regard he referred to the massive earthquake hitting Kashmir and said the people of Sindh and especially of Karachi were in the forefront in the aid of their brothers in distress.
The chief minister paid tribute to special people and patients who participated in the rally and said what greater solidarity could be demonstrated than that. “We can even lay down our lives for the Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom,” he said.
The rally was also addressed by Mir Tahir Masood, a leader of the Hurriyat Conference, Provincial Minister Dr Saeeda Malik and Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil.
Among others, the rally was participated by Provincial Ministers Syed Sardar Ahmed, Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, Sardar Akmal Leghari, Adviser on Information Salahuddin Haider, MPA Bano Saghir besides a large number of people belonging to various walks of life.
MESSAGE: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has assured the Kashmiris that their sacrifices will not go waste.
The chief minister recounted that the Kashmiris had made huge sacrifices for the attainment of their rights.
In his message on Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed across the country on Monday, the chief minister said it was a fundamental right of every human being to lead his life in accordance with his beliefs and traditions. “The day is not far away when the tireless efforts of Kashmiris will bear fruit,” he added.
The chief minister said the objective of observing Kashmir Day was to show solidarity with Kashmiri people through assurance of political, diplomatic and moral support and cooperation to them.
He said with the serious efforts of President General Pervez Musharraf, the Kashmir issue had not only been highlighted on the international level but it was hoped that the same would also be resolved soon. Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim appealed to the people of Sindh to observe Kashmir Day with full participation to boost the courage and morale of the Kashmiri brothers.
Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik assured the Kashmiri people that the day was not far off when the core issue of Kashmir would be resolved to the aspiration of Kashmiri people.
The credit for it would go to the present leadership whose vision and pragmatic approach to the problem would bring an ever-lasting peace, progress and prosperity in the region, she said.
Dr Saeeda Malik, lauding the sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir, expressed the hope that the problem which was a cause of differences between Pakistan and India would be amicably resolved to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders.
The minister further stated that the plan and initiatives taken by President General Pervez Musharraf to resolve the dispute would hopefully bring positive results in this regard.—APP