Various parties, human rights activists and members of civil society on Friday held protest rallies and demonstrations on the occasion of 'Kashmir Solidarity Day, voicing their full support for the Kashmiris' struggle for freedom and self determinations. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), PML-N Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) Azad Kashmir Division, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Muslim Students Organisation (MSO), All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), and others taken out their separate rallies which concluded outside Karachi Press Club (KPC).
A large number of people from all walks of life participated in these rallies. The participants, carrying placards and banners were chanting slogans against Indian oppression in the valley. The participants of rallies urged the PML-N government to take up the matter of Kashmir with Indian government. Jamat-e-Islami's (JI) Deputy Chief Asadullah Bhutto has said that the dispute of Kashmir is not only the incomplete agenda of the partition of subcontinent but is also a matter of life and death to Pakistan, as well as to Kashmiris. He was expressing these views while addressing 'Kashmir Solidarity' rally, taken out from Jail chowk to Quaid-e-Azam mazar.
Bhutto said that the ruling regime should take up the matter of Kashmir with its Indian counterpart, instead of being engaged in useless dialogue sessions. He also criticised the role of global community in this regard and said that the solution of the issue has already been provided by the UN but the United States, European nations and other members of the global community posses dual standards due to their hostility to the Muslim Ummah. Engr Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, JI Karachi chief, said that the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is quite illegal as per international laws.
The directorate of human rights also organised a walk to mark the day. The walk was started from Sindh Secretariat and concluded at Karachi Press Club. District Administration Karachi South in collaboration with the District Municipal Corporation (DMC) South organised a rally. It commenced from Arambagh and after passing through various areas concluded at Haqqani Chowk. Speakers said that February 5 is marked as a day of solidarity with the Kashmiri brothers in their just struggle for the right of self-determination.
They also condemned the atrocities and human rights violations in the Occupied Kashmir. The participants of the rally appealed to the United Nations for the playing its due role for the stoppage of human rights violations in the Occupied Kashmir and help in the realisation of the right of self-determination of the Kashmiris.