PESHAWAR: Protest rallies were taken out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in connection with the Al-Quds Day to condemn Israeli atrocities against the people of Palestine and brutal action by Israeli forces against worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The international Quds Day, which coincided with the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan, was observed by people of different schools of thought.

The main rallies were held separately in the provincial metropolis under the aegis of Imamia Jirga and Almi Muttahida Ulema Mashaikh Council Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, at Peshawar city and cantonment areas, respectively.

The rally at Peshawar city headed by Akhunzada Muzaffar Ali started from Jamia Masjid Koocha Risaldar and ended at Chowk Shaheedan.

The procession taken out from Sunehri Masjid, headed by Maulana Shoaib of Almi Muttahida Ulema Mashaikh Council Pakistan ended at Sher Shah Suri Road.

A number of religious scholars, including Maulana Mehmoodul Hassan, Maulana Ubaidullah, Qari Hafeezur Rehman and others, shared their views on the occasion. The people also shouted slogans against India for its brutalities in occupied Kashmir.

The rallies were attended by activists of religious groups and political parties and traders. The people staged the protest demonstrations against the US and Israel for their injustices against innocent Muslims.

The protesters set ablaze the Israeli and US flags and expressed solidarity with the oppressed Muslims of the occupied territory.

Expressing their full support to the people of Palestine, they vowed to render every sacrifice for protection of the holy places. They said the Israelis were involved in killing of innocent Muslims, including women and children.

The speakers condemned the US and Israel for their anti-Muslim and anti-Islam policies and urged the Muslim Ummah to forge unity among their ranks to foil the nefarious designs of Zionist enemies. They said that the US government was supporting Israelis which had made lives of the innocent Palestinian miserable.

Our Kurram correspondent adds that hundreds of people participated in anti-Israel rally in Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram tribal district, after Friday prayers. Holding banners and flags, the protesters chanted slogans against Israel and US.

Former Senator Allama Abid Al-Hussaini led the rally which ended at the town’s Shaheed Chowk. Addressing the participants, Allama Hussaini urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop brutalities against the innocent Palestinians. He said the Muslim Ummah had been ignoring miseries of the people of Palestine and Indian occupied Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2022