KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Political and religious parties, human rights organisations and government institutions organised rallies, seminars and other activities across the province to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on Wednesday, vowing to continue their support to the people of the India-held territory, and urging the global community to play their role to bring the injustice and violence in the occupied region to an end.

In Karachi, a ceremony was held at Sindh Governor to pay tribute to the unwavering struggle of the Kashmiri people and said that self-determination is their fundamental right and the Pakistani nation supports their struggle.

Governor Kamran Tessori urged the international community to take notice of Indian atrocities in the illegally occupied territory. The ceremony was also attended by consul general of different countries, leaders of minority communities and others, said a statement.

At an event organised by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) at its head office, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab addressed the participants after a rally and said that the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in their struggle and the whole Pakistan is observing Kashmir Solidarity Day to pay tribute to their courage and bravery.

Government institutions also organised rallies, events, and gatherings in this regard.

One of the rallies started from the People’s Secretariat and concluded at the Mazar-i-Quaid. It was followed by a central ceremony led by Sindh Minister for Education and Mines & Mineral Development, Syed Sardar Ali Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that based on geographical realities, Kashmir is a part of Pakistan. “Despite years of oppression and greedy tactics, India has not succeeded in gaining the support of the Kashmiri people because they have consistently refused to accept Indian dominance,” he said.

The rally was also attended by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh Najmi Alam, Hurriyat leader from Azad Kashmir Syed Muhammad Naseem Yousuf Bukhari, Karachi commissioner, political leaders, civil society representatives, social figures, students, and a large number of other citizens.

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged a rally outside the Karachi Press Club where its leaders, Waqar Mehdi, Provincial Minister and President of PPP Karachi Division, Saeed Ghani, General Secretary Javed Nagori, and President of PPP Azad Kashmir Sindh Zone, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali, addressed the participants and urged the United Nations to open its eyes and ears and fulfill its promise to hold a plebiscite for the Kashmiri people in accordance with its approved resolutions.

They emphasised that the Kashmir issue, which has remained on the UN’s agenda for 75 years, is the longest-standing unresolved issue in South Asia. The global community, they stated, must end its double standards now.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) organised a ceremony at a park adjacent to its headquarters in Bahadurabad. Addressing the participants, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that his party has historically been committed to resolving the Kashmir issue.

“Our narrative is about Kashmiri freedom, which is a crucial component because until Kashmir is free, Pakistan’s freedom will not be complete,” he said. “The decisions related to Kashmir at the global level have been stalled and are yet to be implemented. Pakistan’s embassies and consulates should have been more proactive in presenting Kashmir’s case to the world.”

A large number of people marched on New M. A. Jinnah Road in a rally organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Carrying placards and banners, they chanted slogans against Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir. People from all walks of life participated in the rally. A large number of women and children were also part of the rally. The march was taken out from Jail Chowrangi to the Mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing the rally, senior party leader Liaquat Baloch said that the global community needs to realise that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians and Kashmir belongs to the Kashmiris. The crises in Kashmir has deprived hundreds of thousands of people of their economic rights, he said and demanded the government, the army and other policy making institutions to dismiss the impression that Pakistan has sold out Kashmir and come up with a strong response over the unresolved issue.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also staged a “special ceremony” near Mazar-i-Quaid. PTI Sindh chapter president Haleem Adil Sheikh while addressing the ceremony said that the struggle of the Kashmiri people is just, and Pakistanis stand in complete solidarity with them.

“Imran Khan is not only the ambassador of Pakistan but also of Kashmir, yet he has been unjustly imprisoned,” he said. “It is because of Imran Khan’s efforts that the United Nations issued a charge sheet against India. We will continue our struggle for Imran Khan’s release and will keep raising our voices for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people,” he added.

Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology organised a walk which along with the students was also attended by PPP leader Shahida Rehmani, Jinnah Town chairman Rizwan Abdul Sami, In-charge Campus and Dean of Science at Federal Urdu University, Dr Mohammad Zahid, Registrar Dr Saadia Khalil, and faculty members of the varsity.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025