Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, provincial ministers, members of the provincial assembly, PTI leaders, workers and a large number of citizens expressed complete solidarity with the Kashmiris at a public gathering held at Faisal Chowk on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day on Wednesday. Thousands of people lodged a strong protest against Indian brutalities. People held flags of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and chanted slogans of ‘long live Pakistan’ and ‘Kashmir will become Pakistan.’ On this occasion, anthems of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were also aired. Later, the siren was blared and one minute silence was observed. Khateeb Bashahi Mosque Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad led a special prayer for the success of freedom struggle of Kashmiri people and end to Indian occupation.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed by the whole nation and added that purpose of celebrating this day is to show Indian wicked face to the world. He said that 185 days had passed since the lockdown of Occupied Kashmir by Indian armed forces and the whole of Pakistan was agitating against this brutality. He regretted that India, which claims to be the biggest democracy in the world, blatantly violated all democratic norms in Occupied Kashmir. India badly demeaned its democratic and secular identity by abrogating articles 35A and 370 of the Indian constitution, he added. The nation has given a strong message to the world that Pakistan firmly stands with the Kashmiris. Pakistan and Kashmir are twins and this peaceful agitation is writing on the wall for the Modi government, he added. Usman Buzdar said that victory will be the fate of the Kashmiris. Prime Minister Imran Khan fought the case of Kashmir with absolute courage and no other leader fought this case as like Imran khan who raised a strong voice in support of the Kashmiris. He said that Quaid-e-Azam termed Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan and we cannot deviate from the Kashmir cause. Pakistan will always be standing with the Kashmiris and all-out support will be continued, added Usman Buzdar.
The chief minister emphasized that Kashmiris will succeed in their just struggle very soon, adding that Pakistanis’ hearts beat in unison with their Kashmiri brethren. Lahore has a special relation with Kashmir and the strong relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir is unbreakable, concluded the chief minister. President PTI Central Punjab Ejaz Chaudhary, Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and member legislative assembly of Azad Kashmir Ghulam Mohyuddin Dewan also spoke on this occasion.
Provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chauhan, MPAs including Uzma Kardaar, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Sadia Sohail Rana, Nadeem Bara, Mahinder Paal Singh, Chief Secretary, additional chief secretaries, administrative secretaries, PTI leaders including Imtiaz Warraich, Amir Gujjar, Mian Akram Usman, Mehar Wajid, Ejaz Diyal, Shoaib Siddiqui and others were present as well.
Meanwhile, Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting at his office on Wednesday to review anti-polio steps and arrangements for safety from coronavirus. At the outset, the chief minister directed to utilize every possible resource to make Punjab polio-free and added that surfacing of polio cases in some cities is a very serious issue. Role of the community is very important for making polio-free Punjab and administrating anti-polio drops to the children at entry points of the province should be ensured. He directed that special focus should be paid to high-risk districts. Recruitment of 3600 anti-polio workers has been allowed and action will be initiated where polio case is reported. He reiterated that saving the children from deadly diseases, like polio, is an important obligation and added that organized efforts are needed because children’s safe future is important.
The chief minister asked the parents to vaccinate their children and no child should remain deprived of anti-polio vaccination. He emphasized to work with renewed vigour to achieve anti-polio targets as there is no room for any leniency. Similarly, every possible precaution should be adopted for safety from coronavirus threat and the health department should keep a vigilant eye to the situation. He directed to set up an isolation ward for suspected patients in PKLI and announced to visit the health department’s control room set up for coronavirus. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare briefed about steps taken for safety from coronavirus and eradication of polio. Chief Secretary, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare, representatives of WHO and UNICEF and others attended the meeting.
