PESHAWAR: Workers of several religious groups and civil society organisations on Friday held protest demonstrations and rallies against the Israeli bombings on Gaza and urged the Muslim Ummah to take a unified stand against the Zionist forces to end the bloodshed.

One procession was taken out from Fawara Chowk by workers of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) against the barbarism of the Israeli troops in Gaza strip. The participants marched from main Fawara Chowk in Peshawar Saddar and held a rally outside Peshawar Press Club, which was led by JuD activists Ghazi Inamullah, Hafiz Samiullah and Sadiq Hussain.

Addressing the rally, they condemned the bombings on population and ground operation by the Israeli troops in Palestine, leaving hundreds of innocent people, including children, dead and injured. They said that Israeli forces had continued the aggression unabated and subjected the innocent people to severe violence for no reason.

Hafiz Samiullah said that the brutalities of Israeli and Indian troops in Gaza and India-held Kashmir, respectively, was an attempt to confine the movements of freedom fighters to their homes and those raising voice against the atrocities were brutally killed, jailed and subjected to torture.

UN urged to take steps for stopping Israeli barbarism

He urged the rulers of the Muslim states and the UN to raise voice against the Israeli barbarism on innocent Palestinians and play a role for immediate truce on both sides of Gaza strip.

Another procession was taken out by workers of Jamaat-i-Islami from Masjid Mahabat Khan which was led by JI provincial general secretary Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Peshawar JI Amir Bahrullah Khan, former MNA Sabir Hussain and Fata JI general secretary Dr Munif Khan.

The participants described the Israeli aggression as the result of weak policies of the Muslim states. The speakers urged the Muslim states to join hands and give a strong message to the United States to stop Israeli bombings or face reaction. They condemned the US for patronising and backing Israel against the innocent Palestinians and warned that if the genocide of Muslims was not stopped then the people would continue protest demonstrations against the US.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat also arranged a procession, which was led by ASWJ district chief Maulana Ismail Darvesh. Shouting slogans against the Israel and United States, the activists demanded of the Muslim world and UN to intervene for immediate end to the bloodshed.

Talking to media persons, Maulana Darvesh expressed concern over the silence of Muslim world and UN and urged them to take immediate notice of the issue and make efforts for a permanent ceasefire. He said that Gaza issue should be resolved on humanitarian basis to bring an end to the genocide of the Muslims.

Another protest demonstration was held outside Peshawar Press Club under the auspicious of Peshawar Youth Volunteers, where the participants demanded restoration of peace in Gaza strip.

Saood Shah, Tariq Afghan and Sher Yar Ahmed led the protesters, who were chanting anti-Israeli and anti-US slogans. They criticised the leaders of Muslim states for failure to take a joint stand against the Israeli aggression and asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to record his protest with the UN over the issue.

Published in Dawn, July 19th , 2014