MIRPUR (AJK) - Amidst full-throated pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, the AJK people observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday with unprecedented zeal and fervency.
They expressed solidarity with Kashmiri brethren fighting against the tyranny of occupational forces in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
They were chanting ''Pakistan Say Rishta Kiyaa - La e La Ha Illal La", and "Kashmir Baney Ga Pakistan". The day was primarily marked with capacious programmes including rallies, demonstrations and human chains at all the entry points of AJK.
By observing the day, independent people renewed their resolve to continue extending full moral, political and diplomatic support to the freedom-loving brethren in the Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir in their just and principle struggle for the achievement of right to self-determination.
As a public holiday, people representing various walks of life took out rallies in all the big and small cities across AJK including the capital city of Muzaffarabad and at the district and tehsil headquarters Mirpur, Kotli, Bhimbher, Rawalakot, Bagh, Palandri, Haveili, Hattiyan and Neelam Valley. They also held seminars and vowed to be with their oppressed brethren in the hour of their trial.
It was aimed to highlight the long-standing dispute of Jammu & Kashmir at international level and apprise the people of Jammu & Kashmir that they are not alone in this hour of trial and turmoil as people of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir are whole-heatedly with them.
As a mark of respect to the struggle of valiant Kashmiris in Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, one-minute silence was observed at 9.58am to pay respects and homage to the martyrs of Kashmir.
Human chains were formed on all seven bridges - at Mangla, Kohala, Dhalkot, Azad Pattan, Bhimbher and Holar, Bararkot, the entry and exit points - which connect AJK with Pakistan. Thousands of people belonging to AJK and Pakistan areas gathered at these bridges and formed human chain to reiterate complete solidarity with Kashmiris. The human chain formed by Pakistani and Kashmiri people was aimed to reiterate unity and fraternity.
In Mirpur district, a large number of people from adjoining Punjab province reached Mangla Bridge, the gateway to this part of Jammu & Kashmir State, and made human chain to express solidarity with the people of AJK who had also gathered at the bridge to make human chain joining hands with the people of Pakistan.
Thousands of people belonging to all walks of life from Mirpur division earlier drove to Mangla Bridge through a big procession led by PML-N AJK leaders.
The speakers said that Kashmiris' struggle for freedom was in fact the struggle for completion of Pakistan - since Pakistan is incomplete without its jugular vein - Kashmir, they declared.
Chief guest of the ceremony Divisional Commissioner M Tayyeb and others said on the occasion that the hearts of the people of Pakistan and Kashmir beat in unison. Pakistan, he declared, would continue full moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
they called upon the United Nations and the United States to exert pressure on India to give a matching response to Pakistan's persistent offer for early peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue through resumption of composite dialogue process in line with the aspirations of Jammu Kashmir people without further delay. They demanded India immediately stop human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and give the right of freedom to the people of Kashmir according to the UN charter.
A 25-member group of motorcyclists from Multan also reached Mangla Bridge to join the mega Kashmir Solidarity Day programmes. The leaders of the motorcycle rally presented shields of honour to Div Commissioner Tayyeb and DIG Mirpur Range Sardar Rashed Naeem as a symbol of solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the people of Pakistan.
A rally organised by the Azad Jammu Kashmir Jamaat-e-Islami was held at Shaheed Chowk on Monday which started from Allama Iqbal Road and culminated at Mangla bridge where they joined the human chain. The participants demanded the global forces pressurise India to give the right of freedom according to the UN charter.
Through unanimously passed resolutions, the mammoth congregation called for early peaceful settlement of Kashmir problem through the resumption of proposed comprehensive bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan without further delay to avert the threat of any conflict between the two nuclear neighbouring arch rivals.
IN Kotli and Bhimbher districts of Mirpur division, the Day was also observed in Kotli and Bhimbher districts in the division with traditional zeal and fervour. Addressing a rally, speakers said that Kashmir is the lifeline of Pakistan and Pakistani people fully share the joys and sorrows of their Kashmiri brethren.
All the three radio stations of Azad Kashmir including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tarakheil and AJK TV aired special programmes and the AJK Press brought out special supplements to highlight the struggle of Kashmiris.