After Prime Minister Imran Khan – in his address to the nation on Monday – announced that an event will be held every week till September 27 to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people, Pakistan Friday (today) observed ‘Kashmir Hour’ from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM in the wake of India’s unprecedented lockdown, human rights’ violations and atrocities in the disputed Himalayan region.
Sirens were blared, traffic was halted and the national anthems of Pakistan and Kashmir were played to mark the ‘Kashmir Hour’ after a comprehensive plan was formulated by all deputy commissioners of the country for staging demonstrations against Modi-led Hindu nationalist Indian government’s illegal actions and gross violations of human rights in Kashmir.
The premier led the demonstration in front of the PM’s office. The provincial chief ministers, the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan headed the demonstrations in their respective areas.
PM Imran Khan
While addressing the participants of ‘Kashmir Hour’ protest rally outside Prime Minister House in Islamabad, PM Imran Khan said that Pakistani nation is standing with the people of occupied Kashmir until its freedom from India.
In his speech, the premier said that eight million Kashmiris are facing fascist India’s curfew from past 26 days with shortages of medicines and food. The time has come to free the valley from continuing Indian atrocities in the valley, he stated.
Imran Khan said Modi has occupied the Kashmir just like Nazis in Germany. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), inspired by Nazis, believes in not giving equal rights to the Muslims, he continued.
“They think Muslims should be taught a lesson that they are not equal citizens. Today, the whole world is seeing what is happening in Kashmir,” he asserted.
The PM said that if India plans to take any action in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, “every brick will be countered with a stone.”
President Dr Arif Alvi
President Dr Arif Alvi reiterated that Pakistan will support the people of India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) until they get their freedom.
The president affirmed that the entire nation is standing with the Kashmiris, and stressed that the whole Muslim world needs to raise voice for them against the Indian atrocities in the occupied valley.
The rights of the Kashmiris cannot be violated, and they will definitely get freedom if we stand together for them, Dr Arif Alvi declared. The president added that he strongly believes that Kashmir will be freed during our lives.
Dr Arif Alvi said Pakistan will answer Indian propaganda at every forum. He mentioned that Muslims in India are facing injustice in their own country. The president also stressed that we need a stronger Pakistan with a powerful economy to raise voice for Kashmir more effectively.
Local political leaders in their respective constituencies led protest rallies in which students and civil society participated in large numbers as Pakistani nation gave the entire world a strong message by expressing support to oppressed people of the occupied valley.
Let it be known that Imran Khan had on Thursday reiterated that he wanted all Pakistanis to come out on Friday to show solidarity with the people of India-occupied Kashmir (IoK).
He had urged all to give a clear message to the Kashmiris that the entire Pakistani nation stands with them and against Indian fascist oppression, the inhumane 24-day curfew, the daily injuring and killing of Kashmiri civilians including women and children – all part of the ethnic cleansing agenda of the Modi-government and its illegal annexation of IoK.
The plan to change demography of the occupied valley is a war crime under 4th Geneva Convention, the premier affirmed.
“We must send a strong message to Kashmiris that our nation stands resolutely behind them. So I am asking all Pakistanis for half an hour tomorrow stop whatever you are doing & come out on the road to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people,” he concluded.
Effective measures are being taken for another big event on the Defence Day (Sept 6). The next meeting under PM Khan is expected to finalize the plan for that day.
It is worth mentioning here that while addressing the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that an event will be held every week to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
“They (India) have played their trump card; they don’t have any card to play now. Now whatever needs to be done will be done by us and the world,” he had said as he took the nation into confidence on the government’s strategy regarding Indian-occupied Kashmir.
He said Pakistan’s Kashmir policy was at a decisive point and he had apprised the world leaders about the plight of the eight million Kashmiri people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Imran will address the UN General Assembly on Sept 27 to highlight Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
