Altaf Hamid Rao
Solidarity rally, part of diplomatic campaign to stir world conscience: Ershad Mahmud,
Islamabad: (Parliament Times) The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is visiting Muzaffarabad the capital city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to express complete solidarity with the besieged masses, in Indian held territory of Jammu and Kashmir, who continue to suffer under massive lockdown and communication blockade.
Pertinently, it is PM Khan’s third visit to Azad Kashmir since August 05 when Modi led fascist regime in India imposed curfew in the held territory after stripping the region of its decades’ old special status by revoking article 370 and 35 A of the Indian constitution. The visit is a part of government’s campaign to highlight the volatile situation in the region besides sensitizing the international community about the impending crisis looming large on the horizons of Indian occupied Kashmir.
Taking to tweeter PM Khan a day before yesterday, said that the aim of this gathering was to send a message to the world about the continuing siege of Occupied Kashmir by Indian Occupation forces. The premier said that the rally is being held to “send a message to the world about the continuing siege of [Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir IOJK] by Indian Occupation forces; [and] to show the Kashmiris that Pakistan stands resolutely with them”.
Meanwhile, brisk preparations are underway for the PM’s rally. A large number of people hailing from different segments of society particularly the members of divided Kashmiri families settled in Pakistan and AJK are expected to join the solidarity rally. Meanwhile, thousands of PTI workers and activists from Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Rawalakot, Paladari, Bagh and others areas have rushed to the capital city Muzaffarabad to take part in the rally. On the other hand big banners and posters inscribed with slogans in favour of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and against the Indian aggression have been displayed in the city, which had witnessed a series of massive anti-India protests during the past one month.
In a separate statement the Secretary Information Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf AJK chapter Ershad Mahmud while highlighting the objectives of rally said, “It is an effort to awaken the world’s moral conscience vis-à-vis the impending humanitarian crisis in Indian occupied Kashmir”. “Month-long suffocating siege and absolute information blockade in the disputed region is a great challenge for all those who believe in civil liberties”, Mahmud said adding that the reports pouring in from IoK were shocking.
“The entire population of the restive region is reeling under indefinite curfew, which is tantamount to collective punishment”, he said adding that it would be a great tragedy if world conscience did not wake up. Terming Indian high headedness as a threat to peace and stability in the region he said that India must realize the fact that it cannot suppress the Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle by strangulating their voice and subjecting them to collective punishment.
Voicing his serious concern over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir he said that there was a dire need that the influential governments across the globe should take effective notice of the simmering situation and make immediate and serious efforts to help-end this inhuman siege, which he said has led to shortage of essential food commodities and life-saving drugs in the region.
