PESHAWAR: Political parties and trader organisations took out rallies across the province to express solidarity with the armed forces against the unprovoked Indian aggression.

In the provincial capital, activists of the Women’s Wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party took to the streets outside the Balahisar Fort, carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans for Pakistani armed forces.

Led by the PPP leaders Nilofar Khan and Shazia Tehmas Khan, the demonstrators praised the armed forces for protecting the motherland and vowed to stand with them in the face of Indian aggression.

The Women’s Wing of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz also took out a rally against the Indian missile attacks inside Pakistan.

Participants vow to defend country

PML-N Women’s Wing provincial president and MPA Sobia Shahid led the participants.

Another demonstration was held by the Hunting and Sporting Arms Manufacturing Arms Association to express solidarity with armed forces.

A powerful display of unity and solidarity was witnessed in Battagram as political parties, trader unions and people came together to hold a rally in support of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force.

They praised armed forces for delivering a “befitting response” to the recent Indian military strikes on civilians inside Pakistani territory.

Noted among participants were Maulana Atta Mohammad Deshani of the ASWJ, Abdul Ghaffar Deshani of the Trader Union, Mahajareen Khan of the PML-N.

The participants marched through the main bazaar of Battagram and along the Karakoram Highway carrying banners and placards and shouting slogans against Indian aggression. They expressed solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces.

The speakers said people stood with their government and armed forces and were ready to render any possible sacrifice for the defence of their motherland.

They condemned Indian military strikes as a cowardly act, which, he said, targeted innocent civilians and places of worship.

The speakers asserted that if India had courage, it would have faced Pakistan’s armed forces head-on instead of resorting to targeting civilians.

The participants expressed confidence in the preparedness and capabilities of armed forces, vowing to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

They declared that if the need arose, they would go to the borders to defend the country.

The participants urged the international community to hold India accountable for its unprovoked and cowardly acts against Pakistan.

They appreciated armed forces for pushing back against the Indian acts of aggression with heavy losses.

The participants said the nation was united and was committed to responding to the external aggression.

Meanwhile, members of the Christian community staged a rally at the main Farooq Azam Chowk in Charsadda to express solidarity with armed forces against Indian missile strikes inside Pakistan.

They marched on different roads before reaching Farooq Azam Chowk, where they condemned Indian aggression and shouted slogans against Indian Prime Minister Modi and for the Pakistan Army.

Pastor Asif Samuel, Shaukat Masih, Shahid Manzoor Masih, Chaudhry Razaq, Riyaz Masih, Shahid Masih Tangi and Imtiaz Gul Awar said the people, including their community members, would stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistani armed forces for the security and integrity of Pakistan.

In the Inayat Kally Bazaar of Bajaur tribal district, the Jamaat-i-Islami leaders and workers staged a demonstration against Indian missile and drone attacks and in favour of the country’s armed forces.

The participants burned old tyres to protest the targeting of Pakistani civilians, infrastructure and mosques by Indian forces.

Also, the workers of Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union took to the streets in Bannu to support the armed forces in the wake of Indian aggression.

Union chairman Pir Ashfaq Khan led the rally whose participants shouted slogans in favour of the Pakistan Army and against Indian government and forces.

He said the nation was united to protect the ideological and geographical borders of the country.

Mr Khan praised the armed forces for shooting down Indian aircraft and drones.

Karak additional deputy commissioner Sahibzada Samiullah also led a rally from the deputy commissioner’s office to the Saddam Chowk.

The attendees included AC (headquarters) Ahmad Mughees, AC of Takht Nusrati Hazrat Bilal, government employees, political, social and religious activists, traders and people from other walks of life. They denounced “cowardly” Indian missile attacks and expressed solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces, which, they said, were fully capable of defending the motherland and giving a befitting response to the enemy over aggression.

The participants said the rally proved that the nation loved its soldiers and would continue standing with them.

They said such rallies not only boosted the morale of the army but also awakened the spirit of patriotism in the new generation.

Also in Dera Ismail Khan, a large “Pakistan Zindabad Rally” was organised by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League to showcase strong public support for the Pakistan Army in the face of Indian missile and drone attacks.

A funeral prayer in absentia was held at Markaz Abdullah bin Masood for martyred Pakistanis.

The rally began at Markaz Abdullah bin Masood and concluded at Topanwala Chowk, passing through Circular Road.

Participants shouted slogans “Pakistan Zindabad” and “Pakistan Army Zindabad.”

The speakers paid tribute to the Pakistan Army and said national sovereignty was safeguarded by the Pakistan Army through unparalleled sacrifices.

Hafiz Ehsan Baloch said patriotism was part of faith and the people’s participation in such events showed growing national awareness.

The Youm-i-Azm (Day of Resolve) was observed with fervour in Lower and Upper Dir, Lower and Upper Chitral, Malakand, Swat, Buner, Shangla and Bajaur districts.

Rallies were staged across the region.

The central rally in Lower Dir was addressed by Jamaat-i-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa north chief Inayatullah Khan, who said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had called Kashmir Pakistan’s lifeline - a stance Jamaat-i-Islami still upheld.

He said the water dispute between Pakistan and India could only be resolved if Kashmir becomes part of Pakistan.

Mr Khan urged the government to give India a firm response after missile and drone strikes and reclaim the occupied Kashmir.

“We stand by our armed forces for the protection of Pakistan,” he said.

The other speakers, including JI district chief and former MNA Maulana Asadullah, assistant commissioner Mohammad Faheem and minority representative Sudesh Kumar, condemned India’s military actions against Pakistan as cowardly acts, expressed solidarity with armed forces and emphasised national unity.

The organisers later announced that a march against India and Israel would be held in Chakdara on May 18, with JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman showing up as the chief guest.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2025