PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said his party supported resistance forces in Palestine, India-occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan and its workers were ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Palestinians in their fight against Israel.

“My party’s workers will fight along with the youth of Palestine against Israel if they’re allowed to proceed to Gaza,” he told a big rally held here to condemn Israeli attacks in Gaza Strip.

The JUI-F chief said Palestinian children, women and youth deterred Israeli aggression in Gaza and protected the holy land.

“We assure our Palestinian brothers and sisters through these mass rallies that the people of Pakistan are with them at this critical moment and are ready to sacrifice their lives for them,” he said.

Mr Fazl said his party’s workers had fought along with freedom fighters in the India-held Kashmir and Taliban in Afghanistan.

“We have always raised voice for the Afghan Taliban,” he said.

Rallies staged across KP against Israeli offensive in Gaza

The JUI-F leader warned that the party won’t let the government ‘sell’ 20 years long struggle of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Without naming names, he said his party would continue struggle against ‘Jewish agents’ in Pakistan.

Mr Fazl said the sitting rulers had planned to recognise the Jewish state and activated lobbies for the purpose but the recent Israeli atrocities in Gaza and brutal action of Israeli forces against worshipers inside Al Aqsa Mosque had thwarted the ‘nefarious designs’ of the pro-Israel elements.

He said no one should think about the recognition of Israel by Pakistan.

The JUI-F chief said the leaders of Muslim world, especially Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League, had committed criminal negligence by observing silence over the recent brutalities of Israeli forces against Palestinians.

He said the silence of the heads of Islamic countries over Gaza attacks had shocked the entire Ummah.

Mr Fazl asked US President Joe Biden to review his foreign policy after his country vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council that called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

He said the US had become isolated in the UN.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-i-Islami also organised an anti-Israel rally in front of the Peshawar Press Club.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan led the rally, which was attended by a large number of party workers, who carried placards and banners and shouted anti-Israel slogans.

Senator Mushtaq said Israel had committed the worst kind of human rights violations by bombing civilian targets in Gaza that led to the martyrdom of women and children.

He said hospitals, schools and residential compounds were demolished by indiscriminate Israeli bombings.

The JI leader urged the Muslim world to sever diplomatic and commercial ties with the Jewish state and demanded the UN and OIC deploy well-equipped international force for the protection of Palestine.

The JI also organised anti-Israel rallies in different towns and cities of the province.

The PTI workers also took out a rally and demonstrated outside the Peshawar Press Club to condemn Israeli offensive against Palestinians. Former district nazim Arbab Asim led the rally. The participants chanted slogans against Israel.

The ulema delivered sermons in Friday congregations focusing on Israeli aggression.

After Friday prayers, worshippers took to the streets in Upper and Lower Kohistan, Mansehra, Torghar, Kola-Palas, Haripur, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Karak, Lower Dir and Kohat against the bombing of Gaza and other parts of Palestine by Israeli forces and demanded an immediate halt to them.

Meanwhile, political, religious and student organisations took out rallies in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan region, including Gilgit, Skardu, Ghanche, Astore, Diamer, Hunza, Nagar, Shigar, Ghizer and Kharmang, to show solidarity with Palestinians against Israeli aggression.

Shouting slogans, they demanded of the world community to intervene for the protection of Palestinians.

A rally was staged by the Insaf Youth Wing from the CM Secretariat to Gilgit Press Club.

Deputy Speaker of the GB Assembly Nazir Ahmad told protesters that it was the right of Palestinians to live independently in their state under the UN Charter and international laws.

The Jammat-i-Islami, Jammat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Imamia Students Organisation, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat also held protests at Ittehad Chowk in Gilgit.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021