KARACHI: Rallies and demonstrations were held across Sindh on Friday to mark Youm Al-Quds in solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemn the atrocities of Israel against the oppressed Arab nation, demanding strong reaction from the Muslim world for immediate help to the people in Gaza.

A large number of people, who attended the events across the province, also rejected the “so-called normalisation of terms with Israel” from the Islamic countries and warned the rulers of those states that their move could lead to devastating consequences.

In Karachi, the major rally was staged by the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) from Numaish to Tibet Centre on M.A. Jinnah Road, attended by a large number of people, including women and children, vowing to continue their support for an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.

The key speakers at the rally included Hasan Arif of the ISO, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqi of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Shamim Naqvi of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and senior leaders of other political parties.

Muslim states urged to break ‘criminal silence’ over Israeli atrocities

Condemning the Israeli brutalities against the humanity, they also questioned the “criminal silence” of the world in general and Muslim countries in particular which has disappointed the faithful as an Ummah.

The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) also staged demonstrations in different parts of the city in connection with Youm Al-Quds. The main protest by the party was held outside Jamia Masjid Noor Iman where Allama Baqir Abbas Zaidi, Allama Mubasher Hassan and Allama Hayat Abbas Najafi addressed the demonstrators.

“The history of Pakistan suggests that the countrymen and respective governments from those of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto agrees on this ideological point that Pakistan will never accept or recognise the illegitimate existence of Israel,” said Allama Zaidi in his address.

He lauded the freedom fighters of Palestine fighting against the Israeli occupation and asked the government of Pakistan to take a step forward and become party in the International Court of Justice against the war crimes of the Zionist state.

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) also expressed solidarity with Palestinians against the Israeli brutalities. A statement issued by the party said that dozens of protest demonstrations were held outside mosques in several areas after Friday prayers against Israel and its supporters across the world.

The participants, it said, carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans against the Zionist regime and its supporters. The party also collected “Gaza Fund” where people “donated generously for their brothers in Gaza”.

The speakers at the JI protests lambasted the Muslim world leaders for their “cowardice and dual face”, it said.

In Nawabshah and Naushahro Feroze, members of Shia Ulema Council, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Imamia Students Organisation and Jafria Students Organisation took out processions to mark Yaum al-Quds on Friday.

Maulana Kifayat Hussain Karimi, Zawar Mohammad Hussain Chandio and others addressed participants in the processions and strongly condemned brutal Israeli attack on innocent Palestinians. Thousands of unarmed humans, including children and women, had been killed so far with complicity of United States, they said.

They slammed leaders of Muslim countries for maintaining criminal silence on the brutal onslaught and continuing genocide. If all Muslim countries boycotted Israeli products, the country would be completely destroyed, they said.

They urged all Muslims to get united and raise a strong voice for the hapless people of Palestine. The International Court of Justice should also take tangible action against Israel, they said.

The protesters raised vociferous slogans against the US and Israel and condemned unabated ongoing onslaught on poor and innocent people of Palestine.

In Khangarh, Ghotki district, members of Shia Ulema Council took out a procession to mark the Yaum al-Quds.

Maulvi Ahmed Khan Indhar, Dr Shahnawaz Samoo and others who led the march from central imambargah at Panj Gali Chowk to local press club demanded an end to genocide of innocent Palestinian Muslims.

They said that America was openly complicit in all crimes against humanity perpetrated day in and day out by Israel in Gaza. All Muslims countries should stand by their oppressed Palestinians brethren in their time of trial, they said.

In Khairpur, members of Jafria Council took out a procession to express solidarity with Muslims of Palestine and mark Yaum al-Quds.

Syed Hassan Abbas Kazmi, Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah Mousavi and others said that innocent men, women and children were being butchered by Israel to grab their land for expansion of illegal Jewish settlements.

They said that it was need of the hour that Muslim umma should get united on global level and raise a strong voice against Israeli crimes in Palestine. The world Jewish lobby was worried about recent restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, they said.

They said that time had come for Muslim umma to end hatred that had kept divided it in sects. Towards the end of the protest, the participants burned an Israel flag in protest against the country’s war crimes.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2024