Pakistan on Monday observed Kashmir Solidarity day with a pledge to support Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for right to self-determination.
Seminars, symposiums and solidarity rallies were held all across the country to show their unwavering support, commitment and allegiance to Kashmir cause.
In this connection, a solidarity rally was held in Islamabad under the aegis of Jammat-e-Islami Pakistan. The rally was attended by a large number of people hailing from different walks of life including men, women and children.
Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans, the participants of the rally demanded the international community to discharge its moral and legal responsibility vis-à-vis the peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute.
Addressing participants, chief senator Sirajul Haq paid tributes to Kashmiris.
Terming right to self-determination as an inalienable right of the people of Kashmir, he said that the world community was duty bound to resolve the lingering dispute as per the relevant UN resolutions.
He said that the government of Pakistan must evolve a comprehensive policy on Kashmir to sensitize international community about the early resolution of Kashmir issue.
Voicing his concern over the international community’s apathy towards the miseries of Kashmir people he said, “I call upon the United Nations to shun its indifference and play its much needed role to resolve Kashmir dispute the way it had resolved other world issues like East Timor”.
To highlight Kashmir cause effectively, he said that there was dire need that government should appoint a deputy foreign minister to project Kashmir cause and Kashmiris’ plight at international level.
Urging Government of India to resolve Kashmir dispute peacefully, he asked New Delhi withdraw its forces from Kashmir and hold plebiscite in the region. “Instead of spending billions of dollars on army in Kashmir,” Haq said that “India should use this huge chunk of money for the betterment of common masses.”
Expressing his party’s full support to Kashmiris, the JI chief said, “I assure the people of Kashmir that we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with them till they achieve their cherished goal,” he said.
Lauding the role of resistance leadership he said, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmed Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik are our heroes. Appreciating the Hizb chief Syed Sallahudin’s struggle he said, “I salute him. His family has been worst victim of atrocities,”
Besides JI chief the solidarity rally was addressed by former MNA and central leader of Jammat-e-Islami Mian Aslam, former JI chief PaK Dr Ejaz Afzal and others.