KARACHI: Rallies and demonstrations were held across the country on Friday to mark Youm Al-Quds, in solidarity with the people of Palestine and reject the “so-called deal of the century” as participants vowed to continue their support for the oppressed Arab nation.

In Karachi, a large number of people, including women and children, attended the rally taken out by Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) from Numaish to Tibet Centre on M.A. Jinnah Road, vowing to continue their support for an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.

The key speakers at the rally included Hasan Arif of ISO, Ali Zaidi of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Muslim Pervez of Jamaat-i-Islami, Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi of Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) and Maulana Aqeel Anjum of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP).

The MWM also held demonstrations and rallies to mark Youm Al-Quds. The main protest was held outside Jamia Masjid Noor-i-Iman in Nazimabad led by Allama Baqir Zaidi, president Sindh chapter of the party. Addressing the demonstration, he said that Israel is a threat to global peace and harmony.

“Moral and ethical support of occupied nations like Kashmir and Palestine is our prime responsibility. Pakistani people and its leaders have always been supporting Palestinian cause and we will keep continue this practice till its independence. Muslim and Arab rulers should break their ties with Israel to struggle for the liberation of Palestine,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Sindh, the Shia Ulema Council took out a rally from Qadam Gah Maula Ali, where Allama Israr Raza Naeemi, Mustafa Ali Hyderi and others made speeches. They said that Israel had unleashed a reign of terror against Muslims soon after the illegitimate state came into being. They expressed solidarity with people of Palestine and said that innocent Palestinians were being butchered by Israel daily and the Al-Aqsa mosque was desecrated by Israeli forces during the holy month of Ramazan.

They lamented the United Nations silence over the atrocities perpetrated against Muslims, while Muslim states too had turned indifferent to the Palestine issue, which was the major reason behind its continued occupation.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2023