National anthems, sirens to blare across country for ‘Kashmir Hour’ at noon on Friday
DESPARDES — Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Wednesday said the entire nation would participate in the Kashmir Hour, by gathering at their respective nearby open areas or workplaces, ensuring unwavering and full support to the people of Kashmir for their just cause.
At 12 noon (PST) Friday, sirens would sound all across the country to formally mark the start of observation of the Kashmir Hour in response to the national call given by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the recent address to the nation, he said at a conference held in Islamabad to discuss ceremonies for the upcoming Defense and Martyrs Day on Sept 6.
After sounding the sirens, the National Anthem besides the Anthem of Kashmir would be played and the entire nation would participate in the Kashmir Hour observance, he added.
While addressing the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that an event will be held every week to show solidarity with the Kashmiri people, starting with Friday (Aug 30) between 12pm-12:30pm.
“They (India) have played their trump card, they don’t have any card to play now. Now whatever needs to be done will be done by us and the world,” he had said, as he took the nation into confidence on the government’s strategy regarding Indian-occupied Kashmir.
A day earlier, more than a thousand students rallied in Muzaffarabad to denounce India’s downgrading of occupied Kashmir.
The demonstrators chanted “We want freedom” and denounced human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
DG ISPR urged the youth with special regard to the students to ensure their participation for expressing unflinching support to their Kashmiri brethren. National heroes, representatives of media besides show biz would fully participate in the national program, he said.
Shortly after the statement by ISPR, cricketer Shahid Afridi confirmed his participation in ‘Kashmir Hour’ and called on people to take part.”Let’s respond to PM call for Kashmir Hour as a nation. I will be at Mazar-e-Quaid at 12pm on Friday. Join me to express solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren,” said Afridi on Twitter. “On 6 Sep, I will visit home of a Shaheed. I will soon be visiting LOC.”
Prime Minister Imran will address the UN General Assembly on Sept 27 to highlight Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
