LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/KARACHI – Like other parts of the world, tens of thousands of people across Pakistan and Azaad Jamu & Kashmir marked Kashmir Solidarity Day with a renewed pledge to continue all-out support for the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination. The day was marked with rallies, walks, seminars, signature campaigns and human chains in all small and major towns of Pakistan, including capital cities Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore as well as Gilgit. Similar events were reported from all Azaad Jamu & Kashmir (AJK) towns and cities, including capital Muzaffarabad, sending a clear message to the world that double standards on the issue of Kashmir will not be tolerated anymore, and that the issue must be resolved now to put an end to the miseries of innocent Kashmiris.
The protesters rejuvenated their commitment to break the shackles of Indian occupation and help the Kashmiris get their right to self-determination. Pakistan observed a one-minute silence at 10am. All rail and road traffic came to a halt as a mark of respect to the 500,000+ Kashmiris martyred since the occupation started. Various government and non-government organizations erected hoardings, streamers, placards and banners inscribed with slogans supporting the Kashmiris’ freedom struggle. Radio and television channels aired special programs to highlight the Kashmir movement.
In Lahore, mainstream religious, religio-political and political parties and human rights organisations arranged rallies, seminars and walks to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren. Jamaat-ud-Daawa organised a mammoth rally on The Mall. Thousands of people from various walks of life, mainly activists of Daawa, participated in the rally from Nasir Bagh to the Faisal Chowk, where top leadership of the parties addressed charged participants. Thousands of participants were carrying flags of Daawa inscribed with the sign of sword and Kalima Tayyaba, and placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of the Kashmir freedom struggle and against the Indian occupation. The participants, waving the flags all along, chanted slogans ‘Kashmirion Se Rishta Kia, La Ilaha Illalah’, ‘Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan, ‘Kashmir Hamara Hai,’ ‘Hindustanio Kashmir Chor Do Ya Jihad Ke Liye Tayyar Ho Jao’, ‘Tera Nagar Mera Nagar Srinagar Srinagar’, ‘Ali Geelani Qadam Barhao Hum Tumharay Sath Hain’ and ‘Hafiz Saeed Qadam Barhao Qaom Tumharay Sath Hain’.
Daawa had made elaborate arrangements for the massive show of solidarity, as people from far-off areas joined the rally in great numbers. The foreign media took a keen interest in the rally, giving special focus to the speeches by Jamaat-ud-Daawa ameer Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and other notable leaders, including Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki and Maulana Amir Hamza. In addition to tight security arrangements by law enforcement agencies, polite Daawa workers checked all before letting them join The Mall rally. Police closed The Mall from Nasir Bagh to the Governor’s House for all traffic a couple of hours before the rally. Police too allowed entry to the rally after a thorough search. Besides police, operatives in plain clothes were also deputed for stricter security. Trained shooters were also posted on all multi-storey buildings along the route of the rally.
Addressing the rally, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that Muslims are not against negotiations, but the track record of India suggests that these would be futile exercises. He urged India to quit Kashmir or face Jehad. “Jehad is for peace. Islam does not allow killing the innocent. But the aggressors are to be given a befitting reply”, Hafiz Saeed said, adding that the west should realise the true spirit of Islam and stop propaganda against Muslims. He urged the rulers to understand the conspiracies India has been hatching against Pakistan. He said that India is working on a plan to capture Balochistan after Kashmir and is encouraging separatist movements there. He said that India staged Mumbai drama but failed to prove its allegations. He said that on the other hand, India failed to conceal the fact that Hindu extremists were involved in the Samjhota Express tragedy.
Vowing to uphold solidarity of the country, he said Kashmir is vital for Pakistan. He said that India is building dams in the occupied territory to stop water for Pakistan, to damage its agriculture and economy. He praised China for taking a firm stance on the actual status of Kashmir. He said that it was Islamabad’s responsibility to support the freedom movement and fight the case of Kashmir. He said that instead of continuing support, the rulers of Pakistan damaged the Kashmir cause after 9/11. He said that now the situation is changing for the better and Kashmir and Palestine will soon get freedom.
Referring to Raymond Davis, he said it is a pity that the USZ is demanding the custody of a killer, but awarded 86-year imprisonment to innocent Aafia Siddiqui. “We will not accept USZ courts if she is not ready to accept ours”, said the Daawa chief. Addressing the rally, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki urged the federal government to create the Ministry of Jehad for Kashmir, saying Daawa is ready to extend financial support and manpower for the cause. He urged the rulers to come out of American slavery and look up to their own people for support. Instead of begging for dialogue, the government should go for Kashmir Jehad, he added. Addressing the rally on the phone from Jammu, Hurriyat leader Shabbir Shah thanked the people of Pakistan for supporting Kashmiris, and expressed hope that Kashmir will get freedom soon. Solidarity of Pakistan is critical not only to the Kashmiris but also to the entire Muslim world, he said, adding that the Indian forces are using all resources to crush Kashmiris, but freedom is only round the corner. Maulana Amir Hamza said that the so-called world powers created East Timor out of Indonesia and divided Sudan, but are declaring Kashmiris terrorists.
He demanded an exemplary punishment for Raymond Davis for killing innocent Pakistanis. He said that the people will throw (President) Zardari, (Prime Minister) Gilani and the Sharif brothers out of power if Raymond was handed over to America. Maulana Amir Hamza said if the rulers handed over Raymond to him, he (Raymond) would confess all crimes. Abdul Salam bin Muhammad said that it was high time for Jehad and not inconclusive dialogues. JUI leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said that the rulers of Pakistan damaged the Kashmir cause and rubbed salt into Kashmiris’ wounds by initiating a bus service and by vying for Indian friendship. He said the Kashmiris kept the cause alive with their blood. He urged the rulers to learn a lesson from Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen and mend their ways.
Hurriyat leader Ghulam Muhammad Saffi, vowing to continue the struggle, said sacrifices of the Kashmiris will not go waste. Referring to a statement by former president Pervez Busharraf and former foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri that Pakistan and India had reached a consensus but Ali Geelani marred it, he said the Hurriyat leader opposed the idea as it was against the aspirations of the people of Pakistan and Kashmir. He said that the Hurriyat leader has urged Pakistan to stop begging for dialogues and press India to accept Kashmir as a disputed territory.
Saif Ullah Mansoor said that barbed wires would fail to stop Mujahideen from hoisting the Jehad flag in Srinagar. He urged the rulers not to be scared of India, as Pakistan is an atomic power and the leverage should be used for Kashmir solution. In another remarkable event of the day, thousands of people formed human chains on all bridges linking Pakistan with AJK – including Kohala, Dhalkot, Azad Pattan, Holar, Mangla, Dhangalli and Bararkot.
Meanwhile, veteran Kashmir leader Ali Shah Geelani expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani people for exhibiting solidarity with them, saying that the zeal shown on Kashmir Solidarity Day is clear message to the world, especially India, that the Pakistan government and people stand by Kashmiris. In Islamabad, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami AJK Abdul Rasheed Turabi addressed a large pubic gathering and paid homage to the efforts of Kashmiris. He said the unprecedented uprising in Kashmir has shaken the Indian government to the hilt, and nervous Indians are trying to suppress the movement through coercive measures. Turabi urged the government to play its role for the independence of Kashmir as a party to the issue. Chairman Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani, in his telephonic address to the rally, said that no one could stop the Kashmir freedom movement by force. He criticized Busharraf, saying he had damaged the Kashmir cause. He stressed the need for a strong stance of the Pakistan government, and demanded that it should internationally highlight the Indian forces’ brutalism against armless Kashmiri.
