Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed on Wednesday with a renewed pledge to continue extending wholehearted support to the just struggle of Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination under United Nations resolutions, amid slogan of "Kashmir Baney Ga Pakistan."
This time, the day was observed after India revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir in August last year to breach of all international laws, and since then the entire population of the held territory has been under lockdown.
Human chains were formed at Kohala, Mangla, Holar and Azad Pattan points linking Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Rallies, public meetings, and seminars were held across the country, including Azad Kashmir to draw attention of the world community towards grave human rights violations and brutalities against innocent Kashmiris by the Indian security forces.
Banners highlighting the plight of innocent Kashmiris have been put on display at all important points and roads all over the country.
In Lahore, the Mall road remained centre of activities in connection with Kashmir Day rallies, Different parties including the PTI, PPP and PML-N held rallies to express solidarity with the Kashmiris.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, provincial ministers, members of the provincial assembly, PTI leaders and workers and a large number of citizens expressed complete solidarity with the Kashmiris at a public gathering held at Faisal Chowk.
The participants who were carrying flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir chanted slogans of "long live Pakistan" and "Kashmir will become Pakistan." On this occasion, anthems of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were also aired.
Later, the siren was blared and one minute silence was observed. Khateeb Bashahi Mosque Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad led a special prayer for the success of freedom struggle of Kashmiri people and end to Indian occupation.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that 185 days have been passed to the continued lockdown of Indian armed forces in Occupied Kashmir and the whole of Pakistan is agitating against this brutality.
He regretted that India, which claims to be the biggest democracy in the world, blatantly violated all democratic norms in Occupied Kashmir. India badly demeaned its democratic and secular identity by abrogating articles 35A and 370 of the Indian constitution, he added.
Usman Buzdar said that victory will be the fate of the Kashmiris. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan fought the case of Kashmir with absolute courage and no other leader fought this case as like Imran khan who raised a strong voice in support of the Kashmiris.
The chief minister emphasized that Kashmiris will succeed in their just struggle very soon adding that Pakistanis' hearts beat in unison with their Kashmiri brethren. Lahore has a special relation with Kashmir and the strong relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir is unbreakable, he added.
President PTI Central Punjab Ejaz Chaudhary, Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and member legislative assembly of Azad Kashmir Ghulam Mohyuddin Dewan also spoke on this occasion.