KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Sunday staged a massive power show in solidarity with the people of Palestine while condemning the Israeli attacks and the silence of the Muslim world, which, it said, indirectly was supporting the Zionist thoughts and ambitions.

The opposition party, both at the Centre and in the provinces, also rejected any backdoor talks and “deal” on Kashmir with India and warned the authorities that it would march on Islamabad if any decision regarding the occupied valley was taken against the national will and desire of the Kashmiri people.

Thousands of people, including women and children, marched on Sharea Faisal to mark the ‘Palestine March’ where not only local leadership of the JI addressed the charged crowd, but key men of Palestine’s Hamas spoke to the rally through video link.

Hamas chief addresses participants on video link

Riding motorbikes, cars, vans, buses and other vehicles, people from all walks of life with workers, leaders and supporters carrying placards and flags of Palestine and the party attended the rally. The procession mainly passed through Sharea Faisal and was joined by caravans at different intersections from different parts of the city.

Ismail Haniyeh speech

The key moment of the show emerged when Ismail Abdel Salam Ahmed Haniyeh, Hamas chief, joined the rally at its converging point near the Nursery bus stop through video link and addressed the participants.

The emotional crowd welcomed him with ‘Labbaik Ya Aqsa’ and other pro-Palestine slogans.

In his brief address, Mr Haniyeh, formerly one of the two disputed prime ministers of the Palestinian National Authority, who became prime minister after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections of 2006, thanked the people of Pakistan for their undeterred support for the people of Palestine.

“World apart, the people of Palestine look towards you [people of Pakistan] the most whenever they are tested,” he said to the roar of the crowd. “The ocean of people here shows that we [Palestine and Pakistan] are not separate or two things on earth. We are one and would remain one, Insha Allah.”

Siraj criticises govt

JI chief Senator Siraj ul Haq criticised the government in particular and the Muslim world in general for their role in the backdrop of the recent Israeli attacks on Palestine. But, at the same time, he referred to the history of this “conventional attitude” of the Muslim leadership.

“What could we expect more from our government, which has failed to show any courage for the people of India-occupied Kashmir,” he said. “But I warn the rulers from this platform that if they make any deal on Kashmir against the will of the people and sell the blood of our Mujahideen, we would march on Islamabad. Then we would see how you find comfort in your luxury offices and homes.”

He said the country would never accept the occupation of Al Quds by the Jews, but it was the “cowardliness” of the rulers which had encouraged Israel.

“The Muslim countries have all the resources, including seven million army personnel, 4,000 tanks, 15,000 aircraft and 70 per cent of the world’s oil reserves, but its rulers as ever failed even to call a timely meeting of the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation],” said Senator Haq.

Apart from party workers and supporters, the march was also joined by various professional bodies, human rights and labour organisations and civil society activists.

Leaders and members of the Karachi Bar Association, National Labour Federation, Pakistan Steel Labour Organisaton and Sindh Farmers Front joined the JI leaders on the stage.

JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rahman in his speech paid tribute to Karachiites, who showed their trust and support to his party.

“In three months, the people of Karachi have come out of their homes in massive numbers with the Jamaat,” he said. “Whether it’s a call for the rights of Karachi or Indian aggression against our Kashmiri brothers and sisters, they [people of Karachi] were always there with the Jamaat to register their protest. Today, they again took to the streets with the JI for the people of Palestine. Karachi is the heart of the Ummah and the world is watching how it’s beating for their brothers, sisters and children in Gaza and Al-Quds.”

He said the march had proved that the Ummah was united for Palestine and this “huge crowd” was a clear message to the international community that the Muslims of the entire world were united against Israel.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021