Zubair Qureshi
Writers and scholars of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Friday staged a protest demonstration to condemn India atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and to highlight plight of the poor Kashmiris against around one million occupying troops.Eminent poet and playwright Amjad Islam Amjad had come all the way from Lahore to participate in the protest demonstration organized by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in front of the academy’s main building.
Apart from Amjad Islam Amjad, those who raised slogans for the freedom of the Kashmiris from the clutches of the occupying Indian forces included Prof Dr Ihsan Akbar, Muhammad Hamid Shahid, Qaiser Hamid, Director General PAL Dr Rashid Hamid, Akhtar Raza Saleemi and staffer and officers of the academy.
The scholars and writers strongly condemned atrocities of Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir and drew the attention of the world community towards the worst humanitarian crisis brewing up in the valley for over a month. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans like “India, leave Kashmir” “Restore Article 370 and 35-A” “Modi’s Fascist Agenda unacceptable” and “Kashmir will be part of Pakistan.”
Addressing the ceremony, speakers demanded that the rights of people of Kashmir should be protected, adding that International organizations should take notice of the human rights violations.With reference to Sept 6, Defence Day they also paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Armed Forces and the civilians who laid down their lives for the cause of peace and prosperity of Paksitan.
A little gathering also held in the H-9 Graveyard where writers paid visit to the grave of the departed son of Prof Ehsan Akbar, Commander Ahmed Shahryar. Commander Shahryar was martyred on October 29, 1999 in Pasni, Balochistan.
They laid down a floral wreathe on behalf of the PAL and offered Fateha for the departed soul and also prayed for all martyrs of the 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999 wars with Indian. Each Pakistani said they is ready to die for the sake of his/her country.
