The nation following the call of Prime Minister Imran Khan observed the "Kashmir Solidarity Hour" from 12:00pm to 12:30pm across the country on Friday. On the occasion, the national anthems of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as sirens were played. The event was attended by all the segments of society including students, elderly people and private and public sector employees.
The main event was held outside the Prime Minister Secretariat where parliamentarians, government officials, public servants, students of schools, colleges and universities and the people from various walks of life participated, while waving both Pakistani and Kashmiri flags. The participants raised slogans like "Long live Pakistan" and "Kashmir will become Pakistan."
A separate ceremony in connection with "Kashmir Hour" was also held at the Presidency. The day was also marked by the public sector organisations like Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Mari Petroleum Limited, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Higher Education Commission, Quaid-e-Azam University, Pakistan Secretariat, Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television, and business centres.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Firdous Ashiq Awan, Naeem-ul-Haque, Murad Saeed, Ali Amin Gundapur and others. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid arranged a function at his residence Lal Haveli in Rawalpindi which was attended by his party workers as well as PTI Rawalpindi workers. When Sheikh Rashid was addressing the ceremony, he received an electric shock from mic.
The Establishment Division also issued a circular in the federal ministries and government offices, directing the government officials to gather at 11:45am in the Presidency where an event was organised in connection with 'Kashmir Solidarity Hour.'
Addressing the participants of the Kashmir Hour outside his office, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, "The message from Pakistan is loud and clear that Pakistani nation will continue struggle for freedom of Occupied Kashmir." He warned India that it will be given a befitting response if it attempts to launch any misadventure in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "There are certain reports that India may resort to an operation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to divert international attention from human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir," he said. The Prime Minister further said, "Pakistan's armed forces are fully prepared to thwart any external aggression anytime."
He maintained that the world leaders have been already informed about the repercussions of the conflict. "If they (world leaders) do not play their due role in resolving the Kashmir issue, the clash between two nuclear countries may result into a big loss to the whole world," he added.
PM Khan further announced that another campaign would be started soon with the message to lift curfew from Occupied Kashmir. "During the campaign, important international figures and celebrities will be involved to raise the issue of human plight and tragedy in Occupied Kashmir at all international forums," he said.
The Prime Minister said that around eight million Kashmiris have been under curfew for the last four weeks with total communication blockade and shortage of food and medicines. The Prime Minister regretted that the response of the international community is quiet when Muslims face persecution. He urged the world to break its silence and stop India from its brutalities against Kashmiris.
Imran Khan said his article published in the New York Times gives a true picture to the world about the brutal environment the Kashmiris are facing. The Prime Minister said that he also described in detail in his article the RSS ideology dominating India. "It will resonate the environment of Nazi Germany that resulted into World War-II wherein around 60 million people were killed if this ideology is not stopped," the Prime Minister warned.
Imran Khan said that it is important to understand the type of the government in India that has unleashed a wave of barbarity on Kashmiris. He said that the incumbent Indian government is a staunch follower of the ideology and philosophy of RSS. The RSS was established in 1925 with the idea of superiority of Hindus and hatred against Muslims.
He said that even the moderate people in India are facing the consequences of this ideology. This ideology has negated the secular philosophy of Indian political stalwarts like Nehru and Gandhi. He said that even Gandhi was killed by an RSS fanatic.
President Dr Arif Alvi also reiterated nation's resolve of supporting the people of Occupied Kashmir in their struggle for right to self-determination. In the ceremony, he said, "Kashmir is not just a piece of land for Pakistan but it's a relationship of faith and humanity." He said over one hundred thousand Kashmiris have been martyred since 1948, adding that even children have laid their lives for freedom of Occupied Kashmir.
He said that India has deputed extra troops in the occupied valley by revoking the Article 370. He said media is not being allowed to report from the occupied territory. Warning the world that India is ruled by a fascist regime and nuclear assets of India are not secure in their hands, Dr Alvi said that Pakistan wants a peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute. "Only a plebiscite can lead to a peaceful solution of the long standing dispute," he added.
Referring to Pakistan and India standoff in February this year, the President said that India should not forget that Pakistan downed two of its fighter aircraft and captured one of its pilots. He said that Pakistan while keeping alive the Islamic norms returned the pilot.
The government and private offices, education institutions, banks, traders and lawyers took part in the events. Sirens blared across the country and all traffic signals across the country turned red as the clock struck noon. On various places, the national anthems of Pakistan and Kashmir were also played.
AP adds: Imran Khan said his country will give a "befitting response" to the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi if it attacked. "Every brick will be countered with a stone," he said. "Our armed forces are ready" to respond to any such attack, he said.
Khan said any conflict between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India will not be confined to the South Asian region. "The whole world will be affected," he said, adding that he will raise the issue when he addresses the U.N. General Assembly next month. Khan said people in Indian-occupied Kashmir have been living under a curfew for almost four weeks since New Delhi downgraded Muslim-majority Kashmir's autonomy on Aug. 5 and imposed a security clampdown to prevent any violent response. In Bangladesh, another Muslim-majority nation, thousands of people marched after prayers Friday through the capital, Dhaka, to protest India's clampdown in Kashmir.
They demanded independence for Indian-occupied Kashmir and the restoration of the constitutional provision that gave it autonomy. The protesters burned an effigy of Modi as they marched through the streets. The rallies came a day after Pakistan's military announced that it successfully test-fired a missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads up to 290 kilometers (about 180 miles).
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