KARACHI: Activists of religious and political parties, human rights organisations and civil society took to the streets across the province on Friday and protested against recent attacks by the Zionist state on Gaza, demanding an immediate halt to the violence against unarmed Palestinians.

In Karachi, workers and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), human rights organisations and members of civil society staged protests against Israel.

From right-wing religious organisations to ruling and opposition political parties of the past and from civil society activists to labour rights campaigners, all put aside their differences and raised a collective voice against the Israeli aggression.

The protesters regretted that rulers of Islamic countries had failed to respond collectively to the Israeli attacks and stand up in support of Palestinian people.

Quoting Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, the protesters said that Israel was committing ‘genocide’ in its war against Hamas fighters in Gaza.

Hundreds of PTI workers and supporters gathered near the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam in line with the nationwide plan of the party to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Addressing the rally, PTI leaders slammed Israeli atrocities against the civilian population and expressed their shock over ‘silence’ of the UN, the US and rulers of Muslim countries.

In Malir, JUI-F staged a rally against the Israeli aggression. The party’s Sindh chapter chief Allama Rashid Mahmood Soomro, who led the rally, said: “What Israel is doing is a crime against humanity. Will the world show the same silence if the same attacks were carried out on any European country? Does the world have no respect for innocent people of Palestine,” he asked.

The MWM staged demonstrations outside Imambargahs in different areas after Friday prayers. Major demonstrations were held outside Jama Masjid Khoja Isna Ashari in Kharadar; Jama Masjid Noor-i-Iman in Nazimabad; Jama Masjid Hussaini at Malir Baraf Khana; Jama Masjid Mustafa in Abbas Town; and Jama Masjid Jafaria in North Karachi.

Speaking to protesters, religious scholars condemned the Israeli aggression and urged the UN to take action against the Zionist state.

They described the US and rights organisations like the UN as ‘puppets of Israel’ and alleged that they were also involved in terrorism in Gaza.

In Hyderabad, activists of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP), Markazi Jamaat Ahl-i-Hadees, JUI-F and Sunni Rabita Council brought out processions which ended up in demonstrations before local press club where the charged workers also burnt Israeli flags and effigies of Israeli prime minister.

The religious parties’ leaders urged Pakistan government to coordinate with world agencies for providing food and medicines to people of Palestine.

They condemned genocide of Palestinians by Israeli forces and asked world nations to offer moral and legal support to Gaza. It was high time dispute over Al Aqsa mosque and Palestine should be resolved permanently, they said.

They said that mere lip service by Islamic countries’ leaders was insufficient and tantamount to adding salt to the wounds of Palestinians.

Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, Awami Action Committee and other trade unions also staged rallies.

Activists of te hLarkana chapters of JUI-F, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) women and Khaksar Tehreek staged rallies in the city to express solidarity with Palestinians.

The party’s district emir Moulana Nasir Mehmood Soomro, who led the protest, said that his party stood by Palestinians and called upon Muslim countries to forget their internal disputes at this juncture and come forward to support Palestine.

This war had exposed faces of the United States and European Union, they said.

Workers of Khaksar Tehreek demonstrated outside local press club and urged Muslim countries to rise above their petty issues and prove their presence by contributing to the Palestinian cause.

JI women wing activists took out a procession which was addressed by Abu Zubair Jakhro, JI district emir, and others who condemned Israel for raining rockets on Gaza and targeting innocent children.

In Sukkur, members of general public took out processions from different mosques after Friday prayers and reached Ghantaghar and press club where they recorded protests against Israel.

The protesters’ leaders said that all Muslims stood by innocent Palestinians. Muslims rulers should listen to peoples’ voices being raised in support of Palestinians and respond to Israel and its supporters.

In Jacobabad, members of JUI-F took out a procession against Israeli barbarism. The party leaders addressed the protesters and said that Israel bombarded innocent Muslims with the help of America. Muslims were being massacred all over the world under a conspiracy, they said.

The protesters asked the leaders of Islamic countries to declare their solidarity with the Muslims of Palestine and send a forceful response to Israel and America for supporting Israeli aggression.

MWM also staged a rally to condemn Israel’s aggression. The party’s local leaders said that silence of Islamic countries over Israeli aggression further hurt sentiments of Muslims all over the world.

They demanded all Islamic countries, including Pakistan, should respond to Israel and America.

The Action Committee, a civil society organisation, also took out a procession.

Similar protests were organised in Kandhkot-Kashmore, Ghotki and Khanpur Mahar by JUI-F and Shia Ulema Council to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine.

In Nawabshah, workers of JUI-F and Shia Ulema Council staged rallies against Israeli atrocities. The protesters condemned the Israeli attack on poor Palestinians and lamented that the UN, and human rights organisations were silent over the human tragedy.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2023