According to a survey conducted by Business Recorder, the federal government employees are generally clueless about the government's plan to hold a ceremonial protest against the Indian forces' atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and to express solidarity with Kashmiris. Neither Prime Minister's Office, nor Establishment Division or Interior Ministry has issued any written notification or circular on this count, it is learnt.
"We have not been officially intimated about any plan to assemble in solidarity with the Kashmiri cause. Unless a notification or circular is issued, we cannot organise any activity at our offices for Kashmir," an official at Board of Investment (BOI) told Business Recorder, requesting anonymity.
A senior official at Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), when contacted, said, the FBR has not received any formal or written instruction from the Prime Minister's Office, Establishment Division or Interior Ministry regarding any event or gathering to be organised on Friday in connection with the Kashmir cause.
Speaking to Business Recorder, Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla said, the Parliament House has not been informed about the government's plan to organise any activity on Friday in connection with Kashmir. "If the government has any such plan, like organising events in support of Kashmir, it is not in my knowledge since it has not been shared with the Parliament House," he said.
It merits a mention here that on Monday, the PM, while addressing the nation, reiterated complete support to the Kashmir cause and expressed solidarity with the people of the occupied valley who are being subjected to severe brutality by the Indian occupation forces for more than three weeks with the imposition of round-the-clock curfew across the occupied State of Jammu and Kashmir. "I ask every Pakistani to come out of their homes, offices, workplaces every Friday for half an hour starting this Friday from 12 noon to 12.30pm to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir," the PM said in his televised address.
A senior government functionary, who wished not to be named, said, in the past, a minute of silence was observed at official level to show solidarity with the Kashmir cause. "Such gestures have a symbolic importance that the people of Pakistan are standing with Kashmiris. But holding a 30-minute protest during office timings not only affects the official working but maybe difficult given the high humidity levels," he said. "On Friday, the government offices take Friday prayer cum lunch break from 12:30 noon to 2pm. If they leave their offices at 12, this means they would get a two-hour break from work. This is too much. Any expression of solidarity with Kashmir issue is certainly commendable but I think the duration of the protests should be reduced keeping in view the related factors," he said.
The business community, however, stated that it fully supports the PM's announcement. President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Engineer Daroo Khan Achakzai told Business Recorder that FPCCI has already organised a number of activities to show solidarity with Kashmir and members would come out in support of the Kashmir cause on Friday. "We have 230 trade bodies affiliated with the FPCCI. All of them have been officially intimated to come out for Kashmir cause on Friday. We have printed banners, placards and taken other steps to extend full support to Kashmir issue. We would continue these activities in future," he said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Wednesday announced that it wants to hold an international conference on Kashmir and sought the assistance of Ministry of Law and Justice in this regard. An office-bearer of the SCBA told Business Recorder that the bar actively supports Kashmir cause. He, however, said, there is no plan of SCBA to leave the offices for half an hour on Friday and assemble in support of Kashmir.