SWABI/KOHAT: Protest demonstrations and meetings were held on Monday to condemn Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

Workers and leaders of various political parties and members of NGOs held a demonstration in Swabi, where the speakers blasted the US double standards and its utter failure to protect life and property of innocent Palestinians.

The protesters marched through the bazaars, chanting slogans against the US and the UN.

The speakers alleged that the US, which claimed to be the champion of human rights, was supporting the Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. They called on the Muslim world to forge unity and work collectively for protection of the Palestinians.

They also blasted the UN for failing to stop the continued aggression of Israeli forces.

In Kohat, participants of a jirga and meetings organised by the JUI-F and Tajir Grand Alliance demanded immediate end to the Israeli army’s strikes on the Palestinian territories.

They said the so-called champions of human rights were keeping a criminal silence over the atrocities being committed against the unarmed people of Palestine.

The JUI-F activists demanded immediate halt to the killings of innocent people. They appealed to the people to arrange five vehicles each from 32 union councils to join the May 21 protest meeting in Peshawar.

The JUI-F meeting was chaired by the party’s district emir Maulana Abdur Raheem.

The participants of the jirga asked the Arab world to take some practical steps to stop Israeli brutalities against the innocent people of Palestine.

They announced to hold a rally in support of their Palestinian brothers in a couple of days.

It was declared at a meeting of the Grand Business Alliance that all the political and religious parties would gather at the Martyrs’ Square on May 21 to denounce the Israeli atrocities.

The meeting was chaired by the alliance’s president Haji Abid Khan.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2021