KARACHI: The International Palestine Conference, organised by the Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PLF) on Monday, demanded that the government officially observe the last Friday of Ramazan — Juma-tul-Wida — as Al-Quds Day to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.

The conference also urged the public to continue boycotting Israeli products.

A large number of prominent political figures, diplomats, scholars and intellectuals attended the conference, which was held at a local hotel.

The conference was addressed by Hamas leader Dr Naji Sheri, senior leader Jamaat-i-Islami Liaquat Baloch, Hassan Noorian, Consul General of Iran, Harman Hardianta, Consul General of Malaysia, Dr Maher Mujhid, Consul General of Iraq and a Russian diplomat, as well as Senator Saleem Zia, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party leader and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Engineer Taimur Ali, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Sindh Assembly, Taha Ahmed, Member of Sindh Assembly, Adil Askari, President of the Majlis-i-Wahdat Muslimeen Sindh, Allama Baqir Zaidi and others.

Dr Sheri thanked Pakistan and its people for supporting the Palestinian cause. He expressed hope that one day Al-Aqsa Mosque would be free, allowing Muslims from around the world to pray there together.

JI leader Liaquat Baloch emphasised that no unilateral decision regarding the future of Palestine and Kashmir would be acceptable without the inclusion of the people of these regions.

He recalled that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah always supported the Palestinian people and declared the existence of Israel illegitimate. He added that any compromise on the Palestinian cause would be tantamount to treason.

Sabir Abu Maryam of the PLF thanked the participants and vowed to continue supporting the Palestinian cause through all democratic and legal forums. He also called for unity within the Islamic world to build strong and effective resistance against the Zionist campaign.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2025