KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Political and religious parties, human rights organisations and government institutions organised rallies, seminars and other activities across the province to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on Wednesday, vowing to continue their support to the people of the India-held territory, and urging the global community to play their role to bring the injustice and violence in the occupied region to an end.

In Karachi, a ceremony was held at Sindh Governor to pay tribute to the unwavering struggle of the Kashmiri people and said that selfdetermination is their fundamental right and the Pakistani nation supports their struggle.

Governor Kamran Tessori urged the international community to take notice of Indian atrocities in the illegally occupied territory. The ceremony was also attended by consul general of different countries, leaders of minority communities and others, said a statement.

At an event organised by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) at its head office, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab addressed the participants after a rally and said that the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in their struggle and the whole Pakistan is observing Kashmir Solidarity Day to pay tribute to their courage andbravery.

Government institutions also organised rallies, events, and gatherings in this regard.

One of the rallies started from the People`s Secretariat and concluded at the Mazar-iQuaid. It was followed by a central ceremony led by Sindh Minister for Education and Mines & Mineral Development, Syed Sardar Ali Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that based on geographical realities, Kashmir is a part of Pakistan.

`Despite years of oppression and greedy tactics, India has not succeeded in gaining the support of the Kashmiri people because they have consistently refused to accept Indian dominance,` he said.

The rally was also attended by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh Najmi Alam, Hurriyat leader from Azad Kashmir Syed Muhammad Naseem Yousuf Bukhari, Karachi commissioner, political leaders, civil society representatives, social figures, students, and a large number of other citizens.

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged a rally outside the Karachi Press Club where its leaders, Waqar Mehdi, Provincial Minister and President of PPP Karachi Division, Saeed Ghani, General Secretary Javed Nagori, and President of PPP Azad Kashmir Sindh Zone, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali, addressed the participants and urged the United Nations to open its eyes and ears and fulfill its promise to hold a plebiscite for the Kashmiri people in accordance with its approved resolutions.

They emphasised that the Kashmir issue, which has remained on the UN`s agenda for 75 years, is the longeststanding unresolved issue in South Asia. The global community, they stated, must end its double standards now.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) organised a ceremony at a park adjacent to its headquarters in Bahadurabad. Addressing the participants, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that his party has historically been committed to resolving the Kashmir issue.

`Our narrative is about Kashmiri freedom, which is a crucial component because until Kashmir is free, Pakistan`s freedom will not be complete,` he said. `The decisions related to Kashmir at the global level have been stalled and are yet to be implemented. Pakistan`s embassies and consulates should have been more proactive in presenting Kashmir`s case to the world.

A large number of people marched on New M. A.

Jinnah Road in a rally organised by the Jamaat-iIslami (JI). Carrying placards and banners, they chantedslogans againstIndianbrutalitiesin occupied Kashmir. People from all walks of life participated in the rally. A large number of women and children were also part of the rally. The march was taken out from Jail Chowrangi to the Mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing the rally, senior party leader Liaquat Baloch said that the global community needs to realise that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians and Kashmir belongs to the Kashmiris. The crises in Kashmir has deprived hundreds of thousands of people of their economic rights, he said and demanded the government, the army and other policy making institutions to dismiss the impression that Pakistan has sold out Kashmir and come up with a strong response over the unresolved issue.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also staged a `special ceremony` near Mazar-i-Quaid. PTI Sindh chapter president Haleem Adil Sheikh while addressing the ceremony said that the struggle of the Kashmiri people is just, and Pakistanis stand in complete solidarity with them.

`Imran Khan is not only the ambassador of Pakistan but also of Kashmir, yet he has been unjustly imprisoned,` he said. `It is because of Imran Khan`s efforts that the United Nations issued a charge sheet against India. We will continue our struggle for Imran Khan`s release and will keep raising our voices for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people,` he added.

Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology organised a walk which along with the students was also attended by PPP leader Shahida Rehmani, Jinnah Town chairman Rizwan Abdul Sami, In-charge Campus and Dean of Science at Federal Urdu University, Dr Mohammad Zahid, Registrar Dr Saadia Khalil, and faculty members of the varsity.

Like other parts of the country, rallies were also staged in Hyderabad to express solidarity with the people of the held valley.

The district administration organised a rally on Thandi Sarak to condemn balatant measures of the Indian government to suppress the Kashmiris.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan also brought out a rally from Kohinoor Chowk to the local press club where the PTI Hyderabad chapter organ-ised a protest.

JUP (Noorani) held a rally also participated by the Tahreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) local chapter to support the cause of Kashmir. The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) staged a separate rally from Station Road to the press club.

The Markazi Muslim League held a public meeting at Hyder Chowk while Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, staged a big rally.

In Sukkur, the district administration held a big rally in which the participants were carrying placards inscribed with slogan `Freedom for Kashmir`.

Separate rallies were taken out by the JI and the Sunni Rabita Committee, along with the district administration in Jacobabad, on the Kashmir Day.

Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur also observed the day to express unwavering support to the Kashmiri people and their right to self-determination.

Rallies were also organised in Nawabshah, Naushahro Feroze and Sanghar with national enthusiasm.

The JI, Muhibban-i-Watan Organisation, Sunni Ittehad Council and other social bodies also took out rallies.

A programme was organised in Bakhtawar Cadet College besides a rally.

Similar rallies were taken out in Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed, Sanghar, Tando Adam, Shahpur Chakar, Shahdadpur, Kandiaro, Moro, Padidan, Tharushah, Mehrabpur and other towns.

The district administration of Dadu organised a rally on the occasion.

In Mirpurkhas, most of the markets and business centers remained closed to express solidarity with the Kashmiris. Different political parties, social organisations and trader associations and district administration held rallies.

Distreit chapters of the MQM-Pakistan district chapter, JI, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, Sunni Rabita Council also took out protest rallies in the city.

A protest camp was established by the district administration of Mirpurkhas, Anjuman Tajiran Mirpurkhas, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mirpurkhas etc. at the Post Office Chowk.

Different political parties and social organisations also took out protest rallies in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Muhammad, Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Jhuddo, Naokot, Sindhri, Hingorno, Phuladyyoon etc.

In Tandoallahyar, the district administration and social organisations took out a rally.

Activists of political and religious parties, government officials, members of human rights bodies, journalists and civil society organisationa came together in a procession to express solidarity with the people of the occupied Kashmir.

Protests were also staged in all other small and big towns of the district, including Matli, Tando Bago, Talhar, Golarchi and others.