PESHAWAR: Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday with different political parties, non-government organisations and the district administrations organising rallies, walks, seminars and workshops to express their support for the freedom movement of the oppressed people ofIndian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Participants of the rallies and walks carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against India for oppressing the unarmed Kashmiris. The protesters shouted slogans in solidarity with the people of the occupied territory.

In Peshawar, a major rally was taken out in the cantonment, which started from the secretariat and ended in front of the Governor`s House.

Members of different traders` unions, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPAs Humayun Khan, Qasim Ali Shah, Malik Liaquat Khan and students of different educational institutions also participated in the rally led by KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.Chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry,Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameedand Peshawar division commissioner Riaz Mehsud also participated.

Addressing the rally, Governor Kundi said that Kashmir and Pakistan were inseparable. He said that the international community must play its role against fascism and oppression in HOJK. `The Muslim Ummah must also unite for Kashmiris` rights,` he said, adding that Pakistan would stand by the Kashmiri brothers until the liberation of their region in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations.

`By putting aside every political and ideological difference, we are united on the issue of Kashmir.

God willing, Kashmir will soon become a part of Pakistan,` he declared.

Minister for social wel-fare Syed Qasim Ali Shah and Kashmiri leader Ishtiaq Wani also spoke.

Earlier, the traders` leaders, including Malik Meher Ilahi, Mujeebur Rehman and Shahid Khan also led processions to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

Similarly, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, in a message said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the government expressed their complete solidarity with the Kashmiri people on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day.

He said the government and people ofthe province were standing with the oppressed Kashmiris in theirjust strugglefor selfdetermination as promised to them by the UN.`Freedom is the fundamental right of the people of Kashmir. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in this struggle for freedom.

Today, we reiterate our resolve to continue our moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of IIOJK,` Mr Gandapur said.

`International human rights institutions should take notice of Indian atrocities on the people. The international community should play its role in implementing the UN resolutions to give the Kashmiris their right to self-determination,` the chief minister emphasised.

Mr Gandapur said: `We salute the bravery, perseverance and steadfastness of the Kashmiri people in achieving their right to freedom. The atrocities of the Indian armed forces in Kashmir are a matter of concern for the international community, especially the United Nations and other human rights organisations,` he said.

Another rally was taken out by Jamaat-i-Islami, which was led by JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (central) chief AbdulWasi and Peshawar chapter chief Bahrullah Khan Advocate. It started from Hashtnagri Chowk and culminated on the Ashraf Road.

Another rally was arranged under the aegis of National Commission for Human Rights.

Likewise, a rally was organised by the Youth Movement of Pakistan and Kashmir, Peshawar district, with the participants holding banners expressing solidarity with the oppressed people of Kashmir. Slogans were raised in favour of the Kashmiris.

A large number of youth, children, elderly and women also participated in the rally.

Pakistan Markazi Muslim League also held a rally, with the participants shouting slogans against the Indian occupying forces. They said that the only solution to the Kashmir issue was `holy war`.

A ceremony was organised at University Public School to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. An English speech competition was held during the ceremony, in which the speakers condemned the atrocities committed on Kashmiris.

Principal Dr Munir Ahmed distributed prizes among the position holders of the competition.

A ceremony was held at Islamia College Peshawar to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day. Faculty members, departmental heads, students, representatives of civil society and people belonging to different schools of thought participated in large numbers.

Another rally was taken out jointly by different civil society organisations, which ended outside the Peshawar Press Club.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl also organised a Kashmir Solidarity Day rally in front of the Peshawar Press Club.

Party`s Peshawar district general secretary Maulana Ahmed Ali Darwish, Maulana Shafiq Khalil, Inamullah Alizai Advocate and others spoke on the occasion.

The participants marched on the Sher Shah Suri Road to FC Chowk, where they dispersed after offering collective prayers.

Kashmir Day rallies were also taken out in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, Mansehra, Haripur, Lower Dir, Kohat, Charsadda, Bajaur, Battagram, Mohmand, South Waziristan, Swabi, Abbottabad, Shangla, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and other small and big towns across the province.