ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: The Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed across Pakistan and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to renew solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

The programme for the day includes public rallies, seminars, TV shows, human chains and many other events.

The day is an annual event marked to support the indigenous freedom struggle of the people of occupied Kashmir, their right to plebiscite promised to them by the United Nations and to condemn Indian attacks and atrocities in the valley, its illegal occupation and tyrannical rule.

The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas has prepared a comprehensive programme for the day.

The day has been declared a public holiday. People all over the country will observe ‘one-minute’ silence.

The Special Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir will observe a Kashmir Solidarity Week, for which a series of events have been planned, starting from a seminar on ‘Kashmir conflict and need for peace: tackling the root cause’.

A ‘Human Chain’ will be formed at the Kohala bridge by people of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to demonstrate unity with and commitment to their brethren in occupied Kashmir.

A memorandum on Kashmir will be presented to the UN representative and a Kashmir convention will be held.

An essay competition for students of colleges and universities will be held on Feb 6-7. The subject is: ‘Kashmir issue: a quest for solution’.

The parliamentary committee has adopted a resolution which says that self-determination is the right of Kashmiris approved by the nations of the world at the UN.—APP