Who says what on Kashmir Solidarity Day

News Desk 

Islamabad: As Pakistan observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, political leaders, government officials and rights advocates across the country renewed their commitment to the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination, while announcing concrete welfare measures for Kashmiri refugees and urging the international community to act.

Housing for Kashmiri Refugees

On the occasion, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced an increase in the monthly per capita subsistence allowance for Kashmiri refugees who migrated in 1989–90, raising it to Rs 5,000.

Speaking in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said the federal government had also launched a pilot housing project worth Rs 3 billion, under which 750 residential houses will be constructed for Kashmiri refugees. The Azad Kashmir government has provided land for the project.

He reaffirmed that the complete rehabilitation of Jammu and Kashmir refugees was a national duty, declaring that Pakistan “was, is and will remain” with the Kashmiri people until they achieve their right to self-determination.

‘Kashmir Is Ours’ 

In Islamabad, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhary reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering stance on Kashmir, stating that the country would continue to raise its voice against oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Kashmir holds a central place in Pakistan’s national consciousness. Our bond with the Kashmiri people is unshakeable,” he said, calling on the international community to take serious notice of ongoing human rights violations.

‘Just and Legitimate’

Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar described the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom as just and legitimate, emphasizing that their right to self-determination is recognized under United Nations resolutions.

He said Kashmiris continue to face systemic repression and denial of basic rights, adding that Pakistan remains committed to raising the issue at all international forums. “No oppression can extinguish the aspirations of a people seeking freedom,” he said.

Implement Resolutions

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam said Kashmir remains one of the world’s oldest unresolved disputes on the UN Security Council’s agenda.

He condemned India’s August 5, 2019 unilateral actions, which revoked the region’s special status, describing them as an attempt to alter the demographic structure of the territory and silence Kashmiri voices.

Muqam urged the international community to stop human rights violations in IIOJK and ensure the promised free and impartial plebiscite.

Kashmir: Grave Human Rights Crisis

In Quetta, PPP leader Sardar Sarbuland Jogezai described Kashmir not as a territorial dispute but a grave human rights issue affecting nearly 15 million people.

He alleged widespread abuses, including fake encounters, mass graves, arbitrary detentions and the use of pellet guns that have blinded children. He accused India of pursuing demographic changes and suppressing Kashmiri leadership to annex the region.

Jogezai reaffirmed that the PPP would continue to support the Kashmiri struggle at every level.

Criticizes Global Silence

Speaking at a seminar in Multan, former National Assembly Speaker Syed Fakhar Imam criticized the United Nations and global powers for adopting a double standard on Kashmir.

He said India could not legally revoke Article 370 and urged Pakistani youth to lead the Kashmir cause through education, integrity and leadership.

Educationist Prof Dr Hamid Raza Siddiqui reiterated Quaid-e-Azam’s description of Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” while academics and students condemned rights violations and expressed solidarity through speeches and tributes to Kashmiri martyrs.

A Unified National Message

From policy measures and humanitarian aid to diplomatic calls and public mobilization, Kashmir Solidarity Day once again underscored Pakistan’s unified stance: political leaders, institutions and citizens stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kashmiri people in their pursuit of freedom, dignity and justice.