HYDERABAD, Feb 5: Different organisations and political groups observed the Kashmir Solidarity Day on Thursday across the province to reaffirm their pledge to stand by their Kashmiri brethren till the achievement of their right of self-determination.

In Hyderabad, over a dozen organisations staged rallies with the biggest demonstrations being held under the aegis of the district government and the Jamaat-i-Islami. District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil led the rally from Hyderabad Gymkhana to the press club, which was attended by employees and heads of different departments of the district government, representatives of various NGOs, public representatives and students.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jamil said that Kashmir was an integral part of Pakistan and the Pakistani nation would continue to extend all diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir in their struggle for their just rights.

He said that liberty was the right of every human being and no one could deprive the Kashmiris of their right of self-determination. Tens of thousands of innocent Kashmiri people including women and children had been massacred by the Indian forces during the last 60 years but these atrocities had not dampened their spirit, he said.

Participants of the rally also observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect to the Kashmiri martyrs.

A large number of JI activists staged a rally in the city, which terminated at the Circular Building after marching through various city roads. Speaking on the occasion, JI Naib Ameer Prof Abdul Ghafoor Ahmed said that the government had failed to come up to the expectations of the people. He said that by giving a strike call or appointing a Kashmir committee, the Kashmir issue could never be resolved.

He said that the Indian forces had killed more than 100,000 Kashmiris and deployed 600,000 army personnel but all these atrocities had failed to cow down the Kashmiri people. He said that it was India, which had taken the Kashmir issue to the UNO but later refused to abide by the UN’s resolution.

The JI leader said that Israel and India had repeatedly violated UN’s resolutions but the world organisation had failed to take notice of the repressive measures unleashed by these two countries against the innocent people.

He said that the United States, Israel and India topped the list of terrorist states. He regretted that even President Zardari had branded the Kashmiri freedom fighters as terrorists. He urged the Pakistani rulers to emulate the Turkish prime minister over the Kashmir issue.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Shia Ulema Council, Youth Welfare Society, Quaid-i-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Memorial Committee, Anjuman Muhajireen Jammu and Kashmir, and Anjuman-i-Noujawanan-i-Islam also staged rallies in Hyderabad.

The PPP held a meeting at the People’s secretariat to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

In Umerkot, various religious organisations and the district education department organised processions and meetings to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Similar rallies were organised in Nawabshah, Shikarpur, Dadu and Kandhkot.