KARACHI: Political, religious and social organisations, educational institutions and government departments took out processions and organised different programmes across Sindh on Sunday to observe Feb 5 as Kashmir Day and express solidarity with people of India-held Kashmir.

In Karachi, over a dozen organisations, including Pak­istan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamaat-i-Islami, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Shia Ulema Council, Youth Welfare Society, Quaid-i-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Memorial Committee, Anjuman Muhajireen-i-Jammu and Kashmir and Anjuman-i-Noujawanan-i-Islam organised conferences and seminars and took out processions, which converged on Mazar-i-Quaid.

In Hyderabad, JI, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan and commissioner organised processions which culminated outside local press club. The speakers said that United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation were sleeping over a dozen resolutions about Kashmir issue. The UN resolutions had not been implemented while Indian forces continued to rape women, they said.

They said that since 2019 the suppressive measures had increased and Muslims were being massacred in an organised manner. The Indian forces atrocities against innocent Kashmiris were unacceptable, they said.

Sindh Minister for Infor­mation Sharjeel Inam Memon and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon said in separate statements that Kashmiris were not alone in their struggle.

They said that Indian forces had unleashed a reign of terror against innocent Kashmiris, which had exposed real face of India before the world community.

Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Government College University, Hyderabad, and CSS Academy Latifabad marked the day by holding different programmes while Markazi Muslim League set up a camp at Hyder Chowk to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

Similar processions were taken out in Matiari, Benazirabad, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan districts.

In Khairpur, Kashmir Student Society organised a programme at Shah Abdul Latif University where the speakers expressed solidarity with people of Kashmir and lamented that under the influence of great powers the UN had so far failed to resolve the simmering Kashmir issue.

A declamation contest on “The right of self-determination and the role of government in highlighting the Kashmir case at various international forums” was also held at the university where the contestants urged the world community to help resolve the humanitarian issue.

In Sukkur and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts, the towns’ administrations organised processions along with schools and social organisations. The speakers demanded international forums take notice of brutalities against Kashmiris.

In Thatta, Umerkot, Mirpur­khas and Dadu, the administrations and educational institutions, civil society and government departments organised processions and various other programmes to express solidarity with Kashmiri brethern.

Thatta assistant commissioner-II and district education officer said that it was necessary to formulate an effective strategy with the help of Muslim countries to force India to restore peace to the valley.

Similar processions, rallies and progammes were organised in Samaro, Kunri, Pithoro, Chhor cantonment, Khokhrapar near Indian border, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Sehwan, Jamshoro and Kotri. The speakers called upon international community to ask the Indian government to stop genocide of Kashmiris.

The speakers said that the Jammu and Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the UN resolutions. Pakistan would never accept atrocities against innocent Kashmiris. Under Article 370, India had made the status of Kashmir more precarious, they said.

They said that that the Security Council could not even implement its own resolutions while India had martyred thousands of Kashmiris and shoved them into mass graves.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2023