People from Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and Pakistan formed symbolic human chains at several places on Tuesday in a manifestation of what they termed as ‘eternal bonds of brotherhood and harmony between the Kashmiris and Pakistanis’.
Rallies and other demonstrations were also held in all district and tehsil headquarters to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Human chains were formed at Kohala, Mangla, Azad Pattan, Holar, Tain Dhalkot and Brarkot which link PaK with Pakistan, but the most noticeable gathering was held in Kohala, some 35 kilometres south of here, with participants from different walks of life from PaK and neighbouring Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces.
Punjab minister for higher education and tourism Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz and Sindh minister for Auqaf and religious affairs Faraz Dero were prominent among the political leaders and public office holders attending the event from Pakistan.
The schoolchildren were holding small flags of Pakistan and PaK as well as placards inscribed with slogans condemning human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and paying tributes to Kashmiris. Occasionally, they also chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab minister Sarfraz said, “Kashmiris and Pakistanis were determined to continue struggle until the freedom of Kashmir.”
He said Pakistan’s government, political parties and public were on the same page with regard to Kashmir policy.
The Punjab minister said a strong Pakistan was needed to effectively raise the case of Kashmir at international level and added: “We all have to make Pakistan economically and politically strong by forging complete unity and harmony in our ranks.”
In his speech, Sindh minister Dero said Kashmir ran in the blood of every Pakistani, regardless of political affiliations.
“I pay tribute to Kashmiri men, women and children for offering unprecedented sacrifices in the presence of India’s more than 700,000 military and paramilitary forces,” he said, adding, “Atrocities could not suppress the resolve of Kashmiris for freedom.”
Dero called upon the UN to play its role in persuading India to implement resolutions on Kashmir.
The Sindh minister also urged the federal government to formulate a comprehensive policy on Kashmir.
Earlier, director Jammu Kashmir Liberation Cell (JKLC) Raja Muhammad Aslam presented several resolutions on the occasion, calling upon India to withdraw “draconian laws, stop use of pellet guns and human rights abuses against Kashmiri people”.
Schoolchildren also formed a human chain in Muzaffarabad city, where some of them were carrying a mock coffin, draped in Pakistani flag.
Another rally was held at Bank Road here under the aegis of Jamaat-e-Islami, where a 7-year-old girl drew attention of everyone as she had chained herself.