ISLAMABAD: Protest rallies were brought out in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock and Taxila to mark Palestine Solidarity Day aimed at condemning Israel’s bombardment of Gaza strip.

The day was being observed on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal to support and express solidarity with the Palestinians.

In Islamabad, several groups including the Islamabad chapter of PTI staged rallies and organised conferences.

Addressing a seminar, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman and Special Assitant to Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said human rights of Palestinians and Kashmiris were being violated.

“Israel is killing Muslims and Christians without any discrimination only to grab Palestinian land,” Hafiz Ashrafi said.

While the traders led by Ajmal Baloch gathered at Aabpara chowk to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

Pakistan Landrover Club held a rally from F-9 Park to D-Chowk driving their luxury vehicles with Palestine flags.

A large gathering was held at D-ChowK by Jamaat –i-Islami where Sirajul Haq said that Palestine was ruled by Muslims for 1,200 years and there was no discrimination against anybody irrespective of their religion or race.

He criticised the United Nations for not doing anything to stop genocide of Palestinians, Rohingya Muslims and other oppressed nations around the world.

Shia Ulema Council chief of Allama Sajid Naqvi while addressing a seminar said it was the duty of all Muslims to support the oppressed people of Palestine.

In the garrison city, Awami Muslim League President and Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed arranged public meeting outside Lal Haveli.

Earlier, the participants of the public meeting staged a rally, which passed through different bazaars under the leadership of Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Drug Control Sheikh Rashid Shafique.

Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed asked the international community to bring to an end the genocide in Gaza.

He lauded the role of media for highlighting the human rights violation in India occupied Kashmir and Gaza. He said that the attack on the Palestinians and Kashmiris was a violation of international law.

He urged the Ummah to show solidarity with Palestinians and Kashmiris.

The anti-Israel slogans were chanted by the participants of the rally while flags of Muslim countries including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Turkey and others were flying outside the Lal Haveli.

PTI North Punjab Chapter also organised a rally in front of Rawalpindi Press Club. The rally was led by Sadaqat Abbasi and the participants urged the international community to solve the Palestine issue and save the innocent lives of people of Palestine.

Meanwhile, different religious and political parties also brought out rallies. The religious leaders condemned the Zionist actions in Gaza and urged the Ummah to stand for the Muslims and Al-Aqsa mosque.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Bilal Hashim also led a rally on District Courts Square. While addressing the rally, he said that Palestine Day is being observed across the country to denounce Israeli atrocities and express solidarity with Palestinian people.

In Muzaffarabad, the AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider also led a rally in Upper Adda to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and occupied Kashmir.

He called upon the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to play a lead role in safeguarding Baitul Muqadas and the rights of the oppressed Palestinian and Kashmiri people.

In Taxila and Attock, Palestinian Solidarity Day was observed to condemn brutalities of Israel against Palestinians and to express solidarity with the Palestinians martyred in the recent violence in Gaza.

Protest rallies were taken out by different religious and political parties as well as local administration in different towns and cities of Attock including Hazro, Fatehjang, Hassanabdal and Pindigheb after Friday prayers to convey the message that the entire Pakistani nation stands by their oppressed Palestinian brothers and sisters.

In Attock, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Attock chapter and various religious parties took out their separate protest rallies to condemn brutalities of Israel against Palestinians and to express solidarity with war victims.

In Wah Cantonment, PML-N brought out a protest rally Opal Chowk to Lalarukh Chowk led by party divisional President and former MPA Umer Farooq.

Moreover, local administration staged a rally in favor of Palestinians in which leaders of political parties and members of civil society, government employees and a large number of people from various fields participated.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021