HYDERABAD, Feb 5: The Kashmir Day was observed with great enthusiasm across Sindh on Tuesday to express solidarity with the people of the occupied territories.

At several seminars held here speakers demanded that the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination in accordance with the United Nations’ resolutions.

Various political parties brought out rallies and held meetings to express their support for the people of Kashmir.In Hyderabad, the Jamaat-i-Islami brought out a rally from its station road office, which ended at the outside of the general post-office after marching on different roads.

Speaking on the occasion, assistant secretary JI, Sindh chapter, Maulana Abdul Waheed Qureshi said that due to the pro-American policy of President Pervez Musharraf, Kashmir issue has been thrown into cold storage.

He accused president Musharraf of destroying all the institutions of the country. He said in order to perpetuate his rule the president was holding fraud elections but warned that the APDM leadership will not allow this to happen.

He said those politicians who had looted public money to the tune of billions of rupees were now spending millions on publication of advertisements against one another.

He called upon the people to abide by the decision of the APDM and boycott the general elections.

The others who spoke on the occasion included JI leaders Shaikh Shoukat Ali and Dr Fawad Ahmed, NLF leader Rana Mehmood Ali Khan and others.

DISTRICT NAZIM: A rally was also taken out from Gymkhana roundabout to the press club which was led by District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil. Speaking on the occasion, the district nazim said that Kashmir was an integral part of Pakistan and the people of the country will continue to support their Kashmiri brothers for their right of self-determination.

All the officials of the district government, including DCO, EDOs and people at large participated in the rally.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party, Hyderabad district chapter, held a meeting at Bhurgari House to commemorate Kashmir Day.

Zahid Ali Bhurgari, Amanullah Siyal, Syed Fayaz Ali Shah and others speaking on the occasion said that Kashmir was the ‘jugular vein’ of Pakistan.

They claimed that it was Z.A. Bhutto, who had declared February 5, as public holiday in 1974, to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. They demanded that the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination in accordance with the UN resolutions.

In Nawabshah, the activists of Jamaat-i-Islami took out a rally which started from the JI office and after marching on Chhakra Bazaar terminated at the same place.

The workers carried party flags and banners and raised slogans in favour of Kashmiris.

Secretary JI of Sindh chapter Rashid Naseem, Suroor Ahmed Qureshi, Professor Aijaz Alam and Zafar Iqbal criticised the policies of President Musharraf on Kashmir and said that the government has changed its stand with Kashmir but 16 million people of the country will not allow it.

They said that free and fair polls were impossible in the presence of President Musharraf and urged the people to remain indoors on February 18.

In Tando Adam a rally was taken out by the Jamaat-i-Islami. It was led by Abdul Aziz Ghori, Zafar Abbas and others. After marching on roads, it reached the press club.

The speakers said India illegally occupied Kashmir and since last 60 years atrocities were being committed against Kashmiris and brutal forces are being used to suppress them.

In Shikarpur, the Jamaat-i-Islami activists took out a rally, led by Maulana Dr Mehmood Illahi Hakro and Moulvi Sadaruddin Mahar, which started from Rustam roundabout and after marching on station road, the participants staged a demonstration at Lakhi Gate tower.

The JI leaders expressed their support for the Kashmiri people for their freedom.

In Nushahro Feroze, a rally was taken out from the DCO complex which was participated by students and teachers of different schools and colleges, education department officials and employees of other departments.

EDO education Syed Rasool Bux Shah and others led the rally.

After marching on different roads, the rally reached the press club where the speakers highlighted the Kashmir issue.

In Mirpurkhas city, different organisations took out rallies in the city. The MMA and Jamaat-i-Islami took out a rally led by Mufti Mohammad Sharif Saeedi.

Participants were carrying banners and flags marched on main roads and reached at Market chowk, where Ameer JI of Sindh, Dr Mumtaz Memon and Mufti Mohammad Sharif Saeedi condemned the atrocities of Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.

Teachers and students also took out a rally from the government model boys high school which marched on main road and ended at press club.

In Jacobabad, the Jamaat-i-Islami activists took out a rally from its office here on Kashmir Day.

The participants raised slogans against the Indian forces and condemned their atrocities against Kashmiri people.

The rally led by the party’s district Ameer Imdadullah Bijarani, after marching through different roads terminated at local press club.