KARACHI: Speakers at a programme said that an independent state of Palestine as Palestinians’ homeland was a just solution of the decades-long conflict.

They expressed these views at the International Palestine Conference titled “A roadmap to achieve peaceful and just solution” organised by the Palestine Foundation (PLF) here on Wednesday.

Besides political and religious leaders, foreign diplomats, business and trade leaders and others were also present.

Speaking as the chief guest, Sind Women Development Minister Shehla Raza said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had declared that Pakistan would never recognise Israel.

She lamented that international human rights organisations were silent on the atrocities on Palestine.

Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen vice chairman Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi said that the people of the country were with their oppressed Palestinian brethren. He said that recognising Israel was recognising India’s domination over Kashmir. He alleged that the role of Arab countries in solving the Palestine issue was criminal and their recognition of Isarel was a betrayal to the Ummah.

Speakers say independent state of Palestine is the only practical solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem

He declared his support for the Palestinian resistance at all levels.

Speaking on the occasion, senior Jamaat-i-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch said that the international forces were silent on the oppression of the people of Palestine and Kashmir.

He said they should raise their voice on the issue of Palestine and Kashmir beyond their political interests. “The international community must recognise the right of the Palestinian people, otherwise it is impossible to establish peace in the world,” he said.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi said: “If we do not rise to help our Palestinian brothers today, no one will rise to help us tomorrow.”

He said that the problem of Palestine required a peaceful solution which should be according to the aspirations of the Palestinian people. He strongly condemned the one hundred years of atrocities on Palestine.

Speaking at the conference, Consul General of Iran Hassan Noorian said that the Palestinian resistance would be successful soon and the freedom of Palestine was certain.

He appreciated the efforts for the just solution of Palestine and said that it was necessary to make a united and joint effort.

At the outset, Secretary General of PLF Dr Sabir Abu Maryam said that Israel was a creation of British imperialism, a police state to control West Asia & North Africa, as well as to secure the Suez Canal.

He said there should be a referendum that should be organised in historic Palestine.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2023