On Youm-i-Istehsal (Exploitation Day), a day dedicated to supporting the resistance of the people of India-held Kashmir, numerous conferences and rallies were organized in Karachi and other parts of the province to show solidarity with the oppressed people. Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab highlighted the illegal actions of August 5, 2019, as an attempt to take away the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris. He emphasized that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and that Pakistan pays tribute to the struggle of the Kashmiri people. As long as Kashmir remains under oppression, August 5 will continue to be observed as Kashmir Exploitation Day.
Rallies, conferences, and seminars were held across Sindh to show solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir. The Sindh government, led by Provincial Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, organized a rally from People’s Chowrangi to Mazar-i-Quaid to express solidarity with Kashmiris. The participants included government officials, employees, and school children, all showing their support for the Kashmiri people’s freedom struggle. The Sindh Madressatul Islam University also observed Youm-i-Istehsal-i-Kashmir with a rally and program at the university auditorium, where speakers condemned the atrocities of Indian forces in Kashmir.
The University of Karachi held a seminar on Youm-i-Istehsal: the Kashmir crisis, where renowned scholar Professor Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed emphasized the importance of spreading the voice of oppressed Kashmiri people globally. He highlighted the need for Pakistan to become economically strong to have a stronger voice on international platforms. KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi stressed the importance of politicians and parliamentarians uniting to raise the Kashmir issue at the international level.
The Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS) organized a seminar in collaboration with the Press Information Department Regional Directorate Karachi on the 5th anniversary of the revocation of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Speakers at the seminar emphasized the need for resolving the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite under United Nations supervision.
Several political parties, including the Muttahdia Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, held separate events, meetings, or press conferences to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir. GDA leaders Dr. Safdar Abbasi and Sardar Abdul Rahim condemned India’s actions on August 5, 2019, in a press conference at Karachi Press Club, where a protest demonstration was also held.
In conclusion, the events and activities held on Youm-i-Istehsal in Karachi and across Sindh demonstrate the unwavering support of the Pakistani people for the freedom struggle of Kashmiris. The solidarity shown through rallies, conferences, and seminars reflects the commitment to advocating for the rights of the oppressed Kashmiri people on both national and international platforms.