ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq on Sunday called upon all political parties to ensure that there is no security situation on Independence Day as it would undermine the integrity of the state.

“Any untoward incident on August 14 will only benefit the designs of our enemies,” the JI chief said while addressing a rally his party organised to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Speaking against the Israeli atrocities on the people of Palestine, he called upon the Pakistan army to take a stand and play its due role in this regard.

“If there can be a multinational force to fight the self-styled war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pakistan army too can play its role against the forces who have occupied Kashmir and Palestine.”

He said Pakistan was a strong nation with a powerful army and the country should play a key role in all issues being faced by the Muslim world.

“But we can only do it if Pakistan remains a strong, stable and progressive country. Therefore it is the need of the hour to develop consensus and resolve all political issues amicably.”

Mr Haq lauded the continuity of the democratic culture in the country and said weakening of democracy would not benefit any political party.

“We are playing our role to develop cordial relations and defuse political tension in the country so that struggle for the growth of the country can be made jointly,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of democracy, the JI chief said the only relief period enjoyed by the Palestinians was the three months of democracy in Egypt.

“The military government in Egypt has not only unleashed tyranny on its people but has also increased the sufferings of the people of Gaza by facilitating the blockade imposed on them by Israel,” he said. “Similarly, some Arab countries are to be equally blamed for the situation.”

He praised former senior minister in the British government Syeda Warsi for resigning from her office over her differences with the British government’s Gaza policy.

The JI leader also lauded the governments of Brazil, Bolivia and other Latin American countries for taking a strong stance against the Israeli government.

“It is shameful that people in London and Chicago have had larger protest demonstrations against the Israeli aggression than any such gathering held in Muslim countries.”

He said the JI would also hold a rally in Karachi on August 17 to express solidarity with the Palestinians.

The rally also witnessed an unusual presence of two members of the major warring political groups - Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and PTI MNA Ali Mohammad Khan.

While the PTI lawmaker called upon the government to take a strong stance against Israeli aggression on Gaza, Senator Rasheed cautioned against conspiracies being hatched to divide the nation.

“We cannot allow Pakistan to be divided and we need to show solidarity to counter such conspiracies,” he added.

The minister also announced that the government of Pakistan would observe August 17 as the national day for Palestine.

Published in Dawn, Aug 11th, 2014