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 emphasized that the illegal actions of August 5, 2019, were an attempt to take away the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris. He led a rally in Karachi and expressed his views to media representatives at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s head office.
The Sindh government also observed Youm-i-Istehsal against India’s illegal move to end the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. A rally led by Provincial Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah was taken out from People’s Chowrangi to Mazar-i-Quaid to express solidarity with Kashmiris. Various government officials, including Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, and education department officers, participated in the rally. The speakers at the event condemned India’s actions and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people.
Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) also observed Youm-i-Istehsal-i-Kashmir with a national spirit. A rally led by Vice Chancellor Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai was organized, followed by a program at the university auditorium where speakers paid tribute to the struggle of the Kashmiri people and condemned the atrocities of Indian forces. The event was attended by faculty, officials, employees, and students in large numbers.
The University of Karachi (KU) 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. KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi stressed the need for politicians and parliamentarians to unite in raising the Kashmir issue at the international level. The seminar highlighted the urgency of resolving the Kashmir conflict democratically through a free and fair plebiscite.
A seminar organized by the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS) in collaboration with the Press Information Department Regional Directorate Karachi emphasized the need to resolve the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for peace and stability in the region. Executive Director CISSS, Ambassador (R) Qazi M. Khalilullah, reiterated Pakistan’s efforts to raise the Kashmir issue on various international forums.
Additionally, several political parties, including the Muttahdia Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, held separate events 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, during a press conference at Karachi Press Club, followed by a protest demonstration with a large number of participants.
Overall, the events and rallies held in Karachi and across Sindh on Youm-i-Istehsal demonstrated unwavering support for the Kashmiri people and highlighted the urgency of resolving the Kashmir conflict in accordance with international laws and UN resolutions. The solidarity shown by various organizations, government officials, educational institutions, and political parties underscored Pakistan’s commitment to standing with the oppressed Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination.