2020 to be year of freedom for Kashmiris, says Mushaal

LAHORE: Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed at National College of Arts to express support of Pakistani nation towards the struggle of Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination under the United Nations resolutions.

Ms Mushaal Hussain Malik, wife of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, especially participated as the chief guest at the event. In her address, she highlighted the current political situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and hoped that 2020 would be a year of freedom for the Kashmiris as the government of Pakistan was pleading their case at the international level in effective manners.

For the last five months, Kashmiris were confined to their homes without food and medicine; she regretted and pointed out that children were unable to attend their schools due to persistent lockdown imposed by the Indian government.

She also thanked the Pakistani government and people for their unconditional and unflinching support to the political movement of the people of Kashmir for their right to self-determination.

On the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Principal NCA Prof Dr Murtaza Jafri said that the international community must do more to support the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in this time of trial and tribulation. He said each additional second on the lockdown clock is a burden on the world’s collective conscience.

He urged the media, government and civil societies to boast their efforts to highlight the plight of Kashmiris in befitting manner to shake the conscience of the international community.

Adding to this, Chairman International Kashmir Rights Commission of Pakistan Rai Muhammad Nawaz, writer/activist Prof Zafar Iqbal Sindhu and artist / journalist from Srinagar Humaira Hussain also shared their views with the audience.

The seminar was attended by the senior faculty of the college and a large number of students. Moreover, an exhibition of posters highlighting the Kashmir issue was also organised at the occasion. The posters were designed by the students of Visual Communication Design Department, NCA, Ms Mushaal Hussain Malik took a round of the exhibition and appreciated the efforts of the students by saying that these posters resonate with the sentiments of Kashmiri people.

Musical events: The Lahore Arts Council arranged two different musical events for expressing solidarity with the Kashmiris at both complex of Alhamra. LAC through these programmes including exhibitions, plays, songs programmes, walks, seminars is highlighting the struggle of the Kashmiri people to the new generation.

All the participants, including singers from Quetta Balochistan, Sahir Hassan and Sunaina Khan performed wonderfully in the evening which met immense applause from the audience. Executive Director Lahore Arts Council Athar Ali Khan said in his comments that the entire nation stands with the Kashmiris and ‘we believe that the struggle of the Kashmiri people will bring colours to the valley and the bright morning of independence will surely rise. People from all walks of life attended the shows of national songs and praised Alhamra's efforts to promote harmony and solidarity with Kashmiri brothers and sisters.