LAHORE - Like other parts of the country, the city yesterday observed Kashmir Day to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
National political parties, religious parties and Kashmir chapters of the parties took out rallies in the provincial capital to mark the day. Special sittings and seminars were also held to highlight the Indian atrocities in the Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamatud Dawa, Jamat-i-Islami and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl. Sunni Tehrik and Pakistan People’s Party were the parties that took out rallies.
Lahore Press Club remained an important point but all rallies culminated at Faisal Chowk (Charing Cross). Dawa led the main rally starting from Lahore Press Club and ended it at Faisal Chowk in front of Assembly Hall.
The ruling party took out the rally from Model Town and finished it at the Faisal Chowk.
The JI set up a protest camp on The Mall in front of Masjid-i-Shuhada. The PTI launched its march from Shah Jamal Colony Ground up to Faisal Chowk. Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal took out rally from Lahore Press Club up to Faisal Chowk. Kashmir Centre City chapter set up camp in front of Punjab Assembly at Faisal Chowk. Sunni Tehreek and Pakistan People’s Party also organized Kashmir solidarity events in front of Lahore Press Club. Jamaat Ahle Hadith also organized an event at Faisal Chowk.
Several other groups and organizations also held different events to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The flag-waving and slogan-chanting participants of different rallies and camps demanded the government and international community to play a proactive role in solution to Kashmir dispute.
The participants were chanting slogans: “We will get Kashmir. Kashmir will become part of Pakistan.”
The entire City gave a festive look as many parts of it were covered with banners, posters and flexes of several political and other organisations to mark the day.
Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and PML-N leader Pervaiz Malik led their party protesters. Prof Dr Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki led Dawa workers, Liaqaut Baloch steered the Jamat-i-Islami event, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Dewan Ghulam Mohiuddin led the PTI rally. Maulana Amjad led the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal and Mufti Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar and Allama Zubair Zaheer organised Jamaat Ahl al-Hadith event.
Addressing hundreds of participants at Faisal Chowk and The Mall, leaders of religious parties said, “Peace dialogue has always been used by the India as tactic to delay the resolution of Kashmir and strengthen its illegal occupation in the territory by continuing genocide of the Kashmiris.”
“The government should end back-channel and track II diplomacy with India,” they demanded.
“The sacrifices made by Kashmiris should not be ignored by Pakistan and there should be no dialogue with India until the resolution of Kashmir dispute,” stressed the religious party leaders.
“The Ummah should get united for the protection of rights, lives and dignity of Kashmiris,” they added.
They demanded an immediate resolution of Kashmir issue according to the resolutions of the United Nations.
However some religious party leaders’ said Kashmir issue would not be resolved through dialogue and Muslims would have to fight it out with India.
“Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmiri and Kashmiris are fighting for Pakistan and they should not be left alone,” they added.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders said, “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and the ruling party will not rest till making occupied Kashmir part of Pakistan.”
“Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan and they will never left alone the Kashmiris. The people of Kashmir under the rule of brute Indian forces fighting a just war for their freedom and we will continue their political and moral support,” they added.
The ruling party activists also burnt effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PTI leader lashed out at PML-N, saying: “The government should not pursue trade ties with India till the resolution of Kashmir issue. The government should take a proactive stand on the issue.
“The international community should press New Delhi for resolution of the issue to end genocide of the Kashmiris and to bring permanent peace in the region. The issue should be resolved according to the resolutions of United Nations,” they demanded.
They also observed one-minute silence to protest against the genocide of the Kashmiris.