Refugees express gratitude on Kashmir Solidarity Day and for the increase in the subsistence allowance by Prime Minister of Pakistan on 5 february during a special session held in Legislative assembly in Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad: Under the auspices of the Working Committee of Jammu & Kashmir Refugees 1989, a “Thank You Pakistan” rally was organized at the Manakpian Refugee Colony to express gratitude on Kashmir Solidarity Day and for the increase in the subsistence allowance.
Hundreds of refugees participated in the rally, raising slogans in favor of Pakistan and Kashmir solidarity. The rally was led by Azeer Ahmed Ghazali, Raja Muhammad Arif Khan, Gohar Ahmed Kashmiri, Iqbal Yaseen Awan, Qari Bilal Ahmed Farooqi, Fayaz Jagwal, Khawaja Muhammad Iqbal, Usman Ali Hashim, Muhammad Younis Mir, Muhammad Aslam Inqalabi, and other leaders.
Participants carried banners reading “Pakistan se Rishta Kya, La Ilaha Illallah” and “Thank You Pakistan,” while chanting slogans such as “Dil Dil Hai Kashmir, Jaan Jaan Pakistan” and “Hum Pakistani Hain, Pakistan Hamara Hai.”
Addressing the rally, speakers thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the Government of Pakistan for fulfilling a long-standing demand of increasing the monthly subsistence allowance for Kashmir refugees. They termed the increase a first step towards resolving the problems faced by nearly 10,000 refugee families comprising around 46,000 individuals.
Speakers also appreciated the manner in which Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed across Pakistan on February 5, stating that Pakistan and Kashmir are “two bodies and one soul.” They reaffirmed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would prefer accession with Pakistan in accordance with United Nations resolutions and praised Pakistan’s continued political and moral support for the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.