The Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed throughout the district on Wednesday. The district administration arranged several events to express solidarity with people of Indian-held Kashmir.
A declamation contest was held at the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium through a collaborative effort between the City District Government and the Faisalabad Arts Council. Students delivered speeches on the Liberation of Kashmir is Completion of Pakistan.
District Coordination Officer Noor-ul-Amin Mengal gave away Rs10,000 each to Bushra Tahir, Johem Israr and Samiya Maqsud for delivering speeches and national songs. He also gave away Rs5,000 each to the 21 participants. Mengal said Pakistan would stand by Kashmiris till they achieved their right to self determination.
Provincial Assembly Member Haji Khalid Saeed said that Kashmir Solidarity Day reaffirmed Pakistan’s moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. He said the United Nations should resolve the long-standing dispute. He also praised speeches made during the declamation contest, and said the new generation should be aware of the Kashmir dispute. City Police Officer Haider Ashraf urged students to develop their understanding of national issues.
Arts Council Resident Director Tariq Javed and Secondary Education District Officer Khalid Mehmud were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, special prayers were offered for the independence of occupied Kashmir at many mosques. Fateha was also offered for those martyred in Kashmir. A minute’s silence was observed at 10:00 am for the martyrs. A seminar on the Kashmir dispute was held at Government Municipal Degree College. College Director Rana Munawar Khan presided over the seminar. Some speakers said Kashmir was an integral part of Pakistan and that India should end its unjustified occupation of the area.
A walk was held at Jaranwala road to express solidarity with the people in Kashmir. The participants were carrying banners with slogans for Kashmir’s independence. A walk was also organised by the Faisalabad Arts Council. Students of the fine arts participated and chanted slogans against the Indian government. Faisalabad Arts Council organised a play titled Kashmir Ki Beti at the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium. There was also a photo exhibition held at the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Art Gallery.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2014.