Khayyam Akbar – Deputy Head of the Mission at the Embassy of Pakistan - has said that Pakistan has never compromised and wavered from its principled stand on the issue of Kashmir. He was speaking to a large gathering, in excess of 500 people, on this past Friday who had gathered at the Community Hall of the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh to commemorate 5th of February - the day celebrated throughout Pakistan, and in its missions abroad, as a day of solidarity for the Kashmiri people and their just cause. DHM Khayyam informed the gathering that Pakistani Ambassador was on an official visit to Pakistan in preparation of a high level Saudi leadership visit to Pakistan later this month. He conveyed best wishes of the ambassador to the gathering on this occasion of solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
Khayyam thanked the organizers for hosting this event. “Sacrifices of the martyrs for the Kashmir cause and the voice of the oppressed people of Kashmir would bear fruit one day and the Kashmiri people would get their right to self determination”, Khayyam remarked. Khayyam made a special mention of the statement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan - Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif - on the occasion marking 5th of February in Pakistan in which the Prime Minister had said that the future of Pakistan and Kashmir were conjoined with each other. “This is the reason the Kashmir issue always remains on the top of the agenda of any parleys between Pakistan and India”, Khayyam mentioned. Khayyam also remarked that Kashmir issue remains as an “unfinished agenda” from the partition of Indo-Pak sub-continent and its resolution lies in the best interests of both the countries.
This day – 5th of February – was in fact declared as a Day of Solidarity with the Kashmiri people by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto during her first stint of premiership way back on 5th February1990. Ever since Kashmir solidarity day is observed every year on 5th of February throughout Pakistan and in all its missions abroad. In Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh this day is traditionally commemorated each year on a Friday afternoon following the 5th of February. This day is dedicated to show Pakistan’s support and unity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir and their ongoing freedom struggle. It is also marked to pay rich homage to the Kashmiri martyrs who have lost their lives fighting for Kashmir’s freedom. The day marks several solidarity rallies in Azad Kashmir (part of Kashmir under Pakistan’s control), in major cities of Pakistan, and by the Kashmiri Diasporas throughout the world.
This event per se at Pak Embassy was ably moderated by Abdul Qayyum Malik who is General Secretary of Kashmir Overseas Form - which is a Council of ten Kashmiri Social and political organizations in Saudi Arabia. Khayyam Akbar was the Chief Guest representing Ambassador of Pakistan Muhammad Naeem Khan. There were ten invited speakers who represented all walks of life from the Kashmiri Diaspora in Saudi Arabia – some even travelled all the way from Dammam and Qassim to participate in this event. This is what they had to say:
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Qamar Faisal Alvi said that the oppressed people of Kashmir aligned themselves with Pakistanis and wanted to be a part of Pakistan. Rana Khadim Hussain read out poetry lines in Urdu narrating his feelings for the Kashmiri people and their just cause. Qari Abdul Basit, an eloquent speaker, spoke at length about the history of Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom. Rashid Mahmood Butt in his fiery expressive style mentioned that Kashmir was an important issue for Pakistan as it was described as “Jugular Vein” for Pakistan. Rana Iftikhar arrived especially from Qassim to attend this event. He traced the history of freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people and the atrocities that they have endured since years.
Mian Hamid Ali recalled about the 35 Km long Human Chain that he participated in, last year in Karachi to mark the occasion of day of solidarity with the Kashmiri people. Ijaz Hamdani paid rich tributes to all those martyrs who laid down their lives for the liberation of Kashmir. Asghar Chishty in his usual melodious rendering style presented some poetry lines in eulogy of all those who continue to struggle for freedom of Kashmir. Sardar Razzak, a fiery speaker, paid rich tributes to Benazir Bhutto for actually declaring 5th February as an official national day to be observed as a day of solidarity with the Kashmiri people. He also mentioned that the Kashmiri issue was live and will only end with its freedom. Muhammad Ashiq presented a 10-Point Resolution, vis-avis the Kashmir issue and how to go about it for its solution, before the audience for their concurrence and support. The event concluded with prayers for peaceful resolution of the Kashmiri issue by Qari Azizur Rehman. A sumptuous hi-tea was also served for the attendees.