PESHAWAR, Feb 5: Several processions were taken out in the provincial metropolis on Tuesday to express solidarity with the oppressed people of India held Kashmir on the occasion of the Kashmir Solidarity Day. They condemned the Indian forces for shedding blood of the innocent people.

The people expressed unity with the people of the occupied Kashmir in their fight against Indian subjugation and impressed upon the world to resolve the issue of Kashmir in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Jamaat-i-Islami workers took out a procession from Nishtarbad to Hashtnagri which was led by provincial amir Prof Mohammad Ibrahim and others. Workers of All Jammu and Kashmir PML-N, and PML-likeminded took out a joint procession from Rampura to Chowk Yaadgar which was led by Afzal Panyala, Haji Afzal and Malik Riaz.

Activists of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Jamiat Talba-i-Islam (JTI) took out separate processions at Sher Shah Suri Road near press club to show solidarity with Kashmiris. They were shouting slogans against Indian government and in favour of Kashmiris.

While speaking on the occasion, JuD leaders condemned the Indian government for using its armed forces against the innocent people of the held Kashmir.

During a rally outside press club, chairman of Hurryiat Conference Syed Ali Gilani in his telephonic speech from the held Kashmir said Pakistan had been struggling for the right of the self-determination to Kashmiris by raising voice at every platform. He said that Pakistanis and Kashmiris were brothers and the joint struggle for independence of Kashmir will soon bear fruit.

The protesters demanded what they alleged ending discrimination against Muslims in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Somalia and Burma. They said major world issues concerning Muslims needed to be resolved.

Meanwhile, the JTI convener for Peshawar Asifullah Marwat, Mahboob Safi and Waqar Chitrali also expressed solidarity with Kashmiris and regretted the silence of the international community over the bloodletting of innocent Kashmiris. They demanded resolution of Kashimir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions.

Activists of Muslim Students Organisation and Imamia Students Organisation also took out torch bearing processions in University of Peshawar and expressed solidarity with Kashmiris.