KARACHI: The city reverberated with anti-Israel slogans on Friday when almost all parties took to the streets and staged protests against the recent attacks by the Zionist state on Gaza, demanding an end to aggression against unarmed and innocent people of Palestine.

From right-wing religious organisations to ruling and opposition political parties and from civil society activists to labour rights campaigners, all put aside their differences to raise a collective voice against the Israeli aggression and regretted at the same time the response of the rulers of the Islamic countries, who failed to collectively stand for the people of Palestine.

Friday’s plan of various parties coincided with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal to the nation to mark it as a day of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians.

JI protests

The Jamaat-i-Islami held protest demonstrations in different parts of the city after Friday prayers.

The demonstrations, which were held outside mosques in various city areas, were attended by a large number of people.

JI youth wing stages a sit-in at Shaheen Complex when disallowed to march towards US consulate

The JI would stage a Palestine March on Sunday (tomorrow) which would be addressed by party chief Senator Sirajul Haq.

Addressing the demonstrations, JI leaders slammed Israel’s atrocities and injustices and expressed their dismay over silence of the UN, the US and rulers of Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

They said that every Muslim must come out of his home to express solidarity with Pales­tinians, who were being killed and injured by the Israeli army.

A rally organised by the JI-Youth was also taken out from the Karachi Press Club to the US consulate general. Karachi JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rahman led the rally.

However, as the participants of the rally were not allowed to march towards the US mission, they staged a sit-in at the Shaheen Complex traffic intersection causing a traffic mess on the busy I.I. Chundrigar Road and adjoining arteries. Later, they dispersed peacefully after Asr prayers.

MWM

The Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen also staged demonstrations in the city on the same model as they protested outside Imambargahs in different areas after Friday prayers.

Major demonstrations were held outside Jama Masjid Khoja Isna Ashari in Kharadar; Jama Masjid Noor-i-Iman in Nazim­abad; Jama Masjid Hussaini at Malir Baraf Khana; Jama Masjid Mustafa in Abbas Town; Jama Masjid Jafaria in North Karachi.

Speaking to protesters, religious scholars condemned the Israeli aggression and demanded the UN take action against the Zionist state.

They described the US and rights organisations like the UN as “puppets of Israel”, who were also allegedly involved in terrorism in Gaza.

They said that rulers of Pakistan and other Muslim states must play their role in saving innocent Palestinians from Israel.

They said that all the Muslim countries must be united and take a strong and united stand against Israel immediately.

PTI

The ruling party at the centre, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, also staged a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club on the appeal of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The party called for global unity against the Israeli aggression.

Speaking on the occasion, city president of PTI Khurram Sher Zaman said that it was not the issue of Muslims alone.

“What Israel is doing is a crime against humanity. Will the world show the same silence if the same attacks are carried out against any European country? Does the world have no respect for innocent people of Palestine,” he asked.

JUI, ASWJ, TLP, PAT events

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) also organised a demonstration outside the KPC. It was addressed by party leaders Aslam Ghori, Abdul Razzaq Lakho and others.

Aurangzeb Farooqi of the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) vowed to take one million men to Palestine for “jihad” if the state allowed him to lodge a strong response against the Israeli aggression.

“Palestine is our Qibla-i-Awwal and we can go to any extent to keep its sovereignty and respect intact. The people and youth of Pakistan have faith in Allah and no power in the world can scare them,” he said.

He was addressing a rally near Nagan Chowrangi.

The banned Tehreek-i-Lab­baik Pakistan also took out a rally from Gurumandir to the KPC.

It was led by Hafiz Anas Hussain Rizvi and scores of people on cars, motorbikes, trucks and buses followed him to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The Pakistani Awami Tehreek also took out a rally from different parts of the city and converged at the KPC, where leaders addressed the participants.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021