ISLAMABAD: Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed in the capital city like across Pakistan on Feburary 5 (today) to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people struggling for their right to self-determination under the UN resolutions. According to Radio Pakistan, the day is being observed to give to the world a loud and clear message that the hearts of Pakistanis and Kashmiris throb in unison. A public holiday has been announced in Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir. A one-minute silence will be observed at 10:00 am to honour the Kashmiri martyrs. Human chains at Kohala Bridge, Mangla Bridge and other points linking Pakistan and Azad Kashmir will be formed. Rallies, public meetings, functions and seminars will be held in the length and breadth of the country and Azad Kashmir to draw attention of the world community towards the plight of Kashmiris. Special cultural programs and festivals will also be held to promote Kashmiri culture and tradition while photographic exhibitions will be arranged depicting the atrocities committed by Indian occupation forces against the Kashmiris. Radio Pakistan will air special programmes to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people. The President’s House would host the main ceremony of the day to be attended by the leadership from all political parties of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and representatives from Occupied Kashmir. President Mamnoon Hussain would address the ceremony that would be a reflection of the national unity to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren. Among those who would attend the event include Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Asif, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir, Kashmir Affairs Minister Barjees Tahir, President AJK Sardar Masood Khan, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan People’s Party Senator Rehman Malik and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s Shafqat Mehmood. Besides the leadership of the Hurriyat Conference, prominent political and social figures as well as the intellectuals would address the ceremony that would be covered live by national media. The event would highlight the freedom struggle of Kashmiri people, Indian atrocities against innocent Kashmiri people besides the efforts to politically carry forward the struggle. Different documentaries encompassing the decades-old Kashmir struggle would also be shown. Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) will telecast special programmes – documentary films, dramas, songs and current affairs – on Kashmir Solidarity Day to inform the world about the Indian atrocities on innocent Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir. These programmes will be broadcast during PTV’s special transmission covering different aspects of the day. Besides, different programmes in national languages will also be presented on the importance of the day. Some special programmes include Sach To Ye Hay, Chotha Satoon, Sulagte Chinar, Muzaffarabad Ke Tareezhi Maqamat, Iqbal Ke Afkar Aur Kashmir, Jaha Birf Girti Ha, Khasoosi Subha Nu and an interview of the AJK prime minister will be aired. Similarly, dramas including Eindhann and Geographia Ka Master will be presented on Kashmir Solidarity Day to inform the viewers about the actual situation in Indian occupied Kashmir where innocent Kashmiris are facing severe Indian aggression and violence. PTV has also prepared special songs which will be presented during the special transmission. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir has said that Pakistan would continue extending political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris till they are given their right to self-determinations to decide their future. Talking to media here, he said Kashmir was a burning issue and without resolving it, third world war could not be averted. India does not want to resolve the issue as it virtually was still reluctant to accept the very existence of Pakistan, he added. He was of the view that India’s case on Kashmir was very week as the resolutions passed by the United Nations could not be overruled by terming the Kashmir issue as bilateral. The minister said that in order to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan has chalked out special programmes to show solidarity with Kashmiris in their struggle against Indian occupation. Various organizations have arranged seminars, rallies and discussions on the occasion. Published in Daily Times, February 5th 2018.