CM Sindh leads Kashmir solidarity rally, reaffirms unwavering support for Kashmiri people

KARACHI (Feb 5): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday led a large Kashmir Solidarity Rally in Karachi, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and strongly condemning Indian human rights violations in the occupied territory.

Speaking to the media and addressing participants of the rally on Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Chief Minister said that February 5 serves as a reminder to the world of the sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people and Pakistan’s firm commitment to their just struggle. “Today, we clearly convey to the world that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people,” he said, adding, “Freedom is the greatest blessing - ask the people of occupied Kashmir to truly understand its value.”

Murad Shah reiterated that Kashmir is incomplete without freedom and that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible without a just resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. “The world has now realised that peace in the region lies only in the freedom of Kashmir,” he said.

Addressing the rally, the Chief Minister said that the Kashmiri people have been struggling for their right to self-determination for the past 79 years, facing severe oppression, unlawful detentions, and widespread human rights abuses. He said India had turned the occupied valley into an “open prison” by incarcerating Kashmiri leadership and suppressing dissent through force.

He emphasised that supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination is Pakistan’s moral responsibility and assured that the Pakistani nation would continue to raise the Kashmir issue at every international forum. “The Kashmir dispute remains a debt on the conscience of the global community,” he said, adding that international laws remain incomplete without justice for Kashmiris.

Highlighting the historical role of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Murad Ali Shah said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto courageously presented the Kashmir case at the United Nations, after which the issue gained global recognition. He added that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto revived the Kashmir cause at international forums after the end of dictatorship, while President Asif Ali Zardari continues to advocate for Kashmiris globally. He also praised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for forcefully highlighting the Kashmir issue during his tenure as Foreign Minister and for leading international diplomatic efforts for peace.

Recalling history, the CM said that after Partition in 1947, the people of Kashmir had decided to accede to Pakistan, but India illegally deployed its forces in the region and later acknowledged at the United Nations that the future of Kashmir should be decided by its people - a promise yet to be fulfilled.

Murad Ali Shah said that Kashmir Solidarity Day was declared a public holiday in 1994 by then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to reaffirm Pakistan’s collective support for Kashmiris. He stressed that the Kashmiri people would not accept anything less than their right to self-determination and expressed confidence that their decision would ultimately be in favour of Pakistan.

The Chief Minister also drew parallels between oppression in Kashmir and Palestine, stating that peace cannot prevail anywhere in the world as long as injustice and human rights violations continue.

Addressing law and order concerns, Murad Ali Shah said that protests would not be allowed on major highways, emphasising that while peaceful democratic protest is a right, it should not cause hardship to the general public. “Public convenience must come first,” he said, urging protestors to act responsibly.

The rally, led by the Chief Minister from People’s Chowrangi to Mazar-e-Quaid, witnessed large public participation, with chants in support of Kashmir’s freedom. Members of the Sindh Cabinet, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, provincial secretaries, senior officials, and party leaders also participated, demonstrating solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

Concluding his address, the Chief Minister reaffirmed that the people of Sindh and Pakistan would continue to stand firmly with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters until they achieve their inalienable right to self-determination.