HYDERABAD, Jan 2: Demonstrations were held across Sindh on Friday in protest against Isreali air strikes in Gaza.

Leaders of various religious and political parties criticised the role of the United Nations and called upon Muslim rulers to evolve a joint strategy to stop Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians. The protesters also burnt an Israeli flag.

In Hyderabad, activists of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Jamiat-i-Tuleba and women wing of the Jamat staged a protest demonstration outside the press club and deplored the indifferent attitude of the Muslim rulers over the Israeli aggression.

Workers of the Awami Tehrik, Sunni Tehrik, JUI-F, JUI-S, Shia Ulema Council and other organisations also staged separate protest demonstrations outside the Hyderabad press club.

The leaders of various political parties and organisations, while addressing the rallies, urged the Muslim rulers to raise a

strong voice at international level against Israeli aggression.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Dr Saifur Rehman (JI), Zahid Mallah and Ayaz Soomro (AT), Khalid Qadri (ST), Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon (JUI-F), Allama Kazim Shah Naqvi and Nizamul Hyderi (Shia Council) and others.

In Jacobabad, the JUI-F and JTI workers took out a rally and staged a sit-in at DCO chowk. The activists were carrying party flags, banners and placards inscribed with slogans against Israeli attacks on Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Jamat-i-Islami also took out a rally which started from party office and after marching on many roads, reached local press club.

In Khairpur, AT activists, led by Abdul Razzaq Chang took out a procession in Faiz Gunj and staged demonstration at main chowk of the town. The speakers condemned Israeli attack on Palestine and appealed the world community to pressure Israel to stop such attacks.

In Shikarpur, activists of the Imamia Students Organization took out a rally followed by demonstration at Lakhi Gate Tower Chowk. The rally was led by ISO divisional president Fida Larik who, while addressing the rally, condemned Israeli air attacks on Palestine and termed it an act of terrorism against Muslim countries.

In Mirpurkhas, a protest rally was taken out from Madina Masjid on the call of the Ulema Action Committee. The protesters carried banners and placards and raised slogans against Israel, USA and India.

They marched on the main roads and reached Market chowk where speakers condemned Israeli attacks on Palestine in which hundreds of innocent people including children and women were killed.

They said that USA was also involved in the attacks and was fully supporting Israel while hatching conspiracy to occupy Muslim countries gradually. They also burnt the effigy of Indian Prime Minister. They asked the Muslims to unite to face the challenges of anti-Muslim conspiracies.

In Larkana, JUI-F workers took a rally to condemn Israeli air strikes in Gaza.

The participants, carrying party flags and chanting slogans, emerged from the Madressa Ishatul Quran and marched on different roads before reaching Jinnah Bagh.

Addressing the gathering, Senator Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, criticised attacks on Palestinian people and killing of innocent people. He alleged that United States was fully supporting these attacks and murdering innocent people. He urged Muslims to shun differences and fight against Israel. Expressing solidarity with them, he said that JUI would stand by the Palestinians in difficult time.

He said it was time for Muslim countries to unite under one flag and establish a forum identical to the UNO to counter such attacks against Muslim countries in the world. He said India and US had planned to attack Pakistan and that was why ‘a drama’ of Mumbai carnage was staged. He accused India and the US for executing this plan by hiring some terrorists.

The activists of Jafria Students Organisation also staged a protest rally after Friday prayers.

Allama Mushtaque Hussain Mashhadi and Maulana Ghulam Abbas Bhutto led the protest. They criticised Muslim countries for what they called their criminal silence over the bombardment on Palestinian civilians by the Israeli forces.

They urged Muslim countries to stand up against the Israel aggression. The protestors later burnt the flags of US and Israel and dispersed peacefully.

In Sukkur, two separate protest rallies were taken out against killing of innocent Palestinians by the Israeli forces in Gaza strip.

Scores of JUI workers, led by Maulana Abdul Haq Mahar, took to the streets from Madrassa Manzil Gah while shouting slogans against Israel and USA marched on the main roads of the city and reached at the clock tower, where they staged a demonstration. A Similar protest rally of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and led by Mufti Mohammad Ibrahim Qadri and Musharraf Mehmood Qadri emerged from Ghousia Mosque and after marching on the main thoroughfares of the city, reached at clock tower chowk and staged a protest demonstration.

Strongly slamming Israel for killing innocent Palestinians, the JUP leaders termed USA and UN responsible for the genocide of Muslims throughout the world. They said that Israel was bombing Palestinians and the world community has kept a criminal silence.

They demanded of the UNO to approve a strongly-worded resolution against the Israeli aggression and also demanded of the Pakistan government to officially condemn Israeli onslaught on innocent Palestinians.