Shahid Afridi asks people to join him to express solidarity with Kashmiris
Shahid Afridi said on Twitter: 'Let’s respond to PM call for Kashmir Hour as a nation. I will be at Mazar e Quaid at 12 pm on Friday'
August 28, 2019
KARACHI: Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi on Wednesday took to Twitter asking people to join him in expressing "solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren" as part of Prime Minister Imran Khan's new plan for a weekly, 30-minute gathering for the oppressed people in the Muslim-majority, Himalayan region.
All-rounder Afridi said: "Let’s respond to PM call for Kashmir Hour as a nation. I will be at Mazar e Quaid at 12 pm on Friday.
"On 6 Sep I will visit home of a Shaheed. I will soon be visiting LOC [Line of Control]," he added.
India, on August 5, had abolished Article 370 of its constitution that granted a special status to the Indian-occupied Kashmir, sent in an unprecedented number of Indian troops to the disputed valley, and put the former chief ministers and Kashmiri politicians under house arrest.
That followed a complete communications — including Internet — and media blackout in occupied Kashmir, while various reports have indicated that there was an acute shortage of food and crucial medicines and no way for the locals to reach out to the outside world.
Separately, legendary cricketer Javed Miandad had also said a couple of days ago that he would visit the LoC bearing a message of peace.
"I’m with other legends of sports to be visiting Line of Control( LOC), to make my voice heard, bring greater awareness to the terrible situation in Kashmir and call for peace @UN charter," Miandad had said.
Check out Geo.tv's full coverage on Kashmir here
On August 25, Pakistani-origin British boxer Amir Khan had visited the LoC to express solidarity with Kashmiris. Speaking to media on the occasion, he had said the purpose of his visit was to advocate for peace and to bring attention to the plight of the Kashmiris besieged in the occupied valley since August 5.
"In pakistan to show support to the Kashmiri people on the pakistan side. Let’s all pray and show our support," he had tweeted earlier today, with a video of him speaking to the media.
"Going there was dangerous but you gotta support good causes. Pls raise your voice and show your support to Kashmir, he added.
Following his trip, the boxer spoke of meeting the families affected by India’s ceasefire violations. “My heart beats with the people of [occupied] Kashmir who are living under siege.
"I condemn India’s actions [in occupied Kashmir]. People are being killed and tortured there,” the boxer had said, urging international community to help end the human rights violations perpetrated by Indian forces in the occupied valley.
“I will continue to be the voice of Kashmiris against the brutalities of Indian [occupation]. I will tell people back in Britain about the situation here,” Khan said.
“Whereas in occupied Kashmir, people are living in fear and under siege,” he lamented, further calling on other celebrities around the world to raise their voice in support of Kashmiris.
The boxer had thanked the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor for organising his visit.
"Thank you @officialdgispr for the opportunity," he had written.
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