PM to hold Kashmir solidarity rally in AJK tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday announced that he was going to hold a big public rally in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Friday.

In a post shared on Twitter, he said that the public meeting would be held to send a message to the world about the continuing siege of Indian held Jammu and Kashmir by Indian occupation forces and to show the Kashmiris that Pakistan stands resolutely with them.

Since India unilaterally decided to annex occupied Kashmir on Aug.5 and enforce a lockdown, Imran has repeatedly raised concern about the situation in the disputed region.

“I am going to do a big jalsa in Muzaffarabad on Friday, to send a message to the world about the continuing siege of IOK by Indian Occupation forces; and to show the Kashmiris that Pakistan stands resolutely with them,” the premier tweeted.

Imran is set to address the United Nations later this month to highlight Indian atrocities in the occupied valley in front of world leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the UN the same day.

Earlier this week, Imran had welcomed the growing concern from leaders and organisations around the world pertaining to India’s rights violations in occupied Kashmir.

In his Twiter post, Imran said he appreciated the calls by the international community, UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) “for India to lit its 6-week long siege of IOJ.”

Earlier, he had also announced that an event would be held every week to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people, starting from Aug.30, when Pakistanis came out in droves to observe ‘Kashmir Hour’ from 12pm to 12:30pm to express solidarity with Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir.

A few days back, the prime minister visited Muzaffarabad and addressed the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly and assured the Kashmiris that Pakistan would do whatever it can.

However, the premier wants to make his public meeting a mega event.

His Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI) party will play a major role in gathering people at Muzaffarabad on the occasion. Besides, other political parties of Azad Kashmir will also make their contributions.

It is expected that Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider will also address this public meeting.