Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): People and the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir as well as all social, political and human rights organizations across the liberated territory are all set to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 – Monday.
Pertinently Kashmir Day is one of the occasions of significance in Kashmir which is celebrated every year to reiterate complete solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir in their just and principled struggle for freedom and to achieve their globally acknowledged right to self determination”, said Raja Azhar Iqbal, the AJK government spokesperson and Director Public Relations (DPR) AJK while unveiling the AJK-wide capacious programs of the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Talking to this Correspondent here today, Azher Iqbal said that the day is most valuable for the Kashmiri people inhibiting either side of the line of control and rest of the world. The DGPR said that PML (N) Supremo and ex Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, besides top PML N’s Central and AJK leadership including AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan will address mammoth Kashmir Solidarity Day rally in Muzaffarabad on Feb 5 to mark the Day of national and global significance vis a vis Kashmiris indigenous struggle for right to self determination with the renewal of unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support of the people and the government of Pakistan which was being extended to the people of Jammu & Kashmir since last 71 years, he added.
Human chain would be made on all six bridges linking Pakistan to Azad Jammu & Kashmir including at Kohala, Azad Pattan, Gari Habib Ullah, Holar, Bhimbher and and Mangla in which People of Pakistan and AJK would join hands to express solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir.With the advent of dawn, special prayers will be offered in all the mosques across the state for those who were martyred during this freedom struggle as well as for the early success of the cause. To pay homage to the martyrs one minute silence will be observed at 10 am with the sound of sirens and all traffic would be stopped. AJ&K television, all three radio stations and FM would broadcast special transmission and special messages of the President and Prime Minister of AJ&K.
The spokesperson continued that the Kashmir Solidarity is the day of exceptional significance in the life of Kashmir which is known as the land of beauty. He said that the day is being celebrated by the Pakistani nation and the government as well as in Azad Jammu Kashmir to renew the bondage of long and deep rooted love and affection by the people and the government of Pakistan which they have for their brethren of Jammu & Kashmir by extending all possible moral political and diplomatic support to their indigenous struggle for liberation of the motherland from Indian yoke, he added.
Raja Azher Iqbal said Pakistan always considers Kashmir as the core issue, between India and Pakistan. This remains a flash point between the two neighbors and has also led to three wars between them. The world leaders have already stressed the need to peacefully resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan to avert any eventuality that may cause a catastrophe in the region, he underlined. He recalled that Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on 5 February every year since 1990 in Pakistan as a day of protest against the long Indian unlawful occupation of bulk of Jammu & Kashmir against the aspirations of the people of the state . The current uprising against the Indian occupation of Kashmir began in 1989 and in view of the popularity of this indigenous uprising the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto – led government had made it official and declared this a public holiday in 1990. Ever since this declaration, each year February 5 is observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day, by Pakistanis throughout Pakistan and abroad as well as in Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Meanwhile, arrangements are being given final touches to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day throughout Pakistan and AJK on February 05 to reiterate complete unity and solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir in their just and principled struggle for freedom, with zeal and zest to extend unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support for the freedom-loving people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir, still languishing under the yoke of Indian repression, it was officially announced. The government of AJ&K, to observe the day, has issued notification to schedule the special programs on February 5. A public holiday has been announced by the government across the liberated territory. Meanwhile, with the coordination of Cultural Academy of AJ&K and AJ&K Council, a Kashmiri cultural show featuring, Artisan at Work, an exhibition of Kashmiris Handicrafts, national songs, tableaux, display of publicity material and puppet show will be held at Lok Virsa to depict the stories on issues related to Kashmir. Indian brutality would also be highlighted through photographs and Kashmiri songs.