QUETTA: Leaders of religious and political parties at an Al Quds Day rally on Friday condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza and West Bank and called it a “genocide” of Palestinian people.

The rally was taken out in the provincial capital under the banner of Milli Yakjehti Council. It was addressed by leaders of Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, Jamaat-i-Islami, PkMAP, JUI-Nazaryati (JUI-N) and other parties.

The Al Quds Day is observed across the world each year on the last Friday of Ramazan to highlight the Palestine issue and Israel’s illegal occupation of Al Aqsa mosque.

The leaders expressed their anger over the silence of Muslim countries and international human rights organisations over the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The participants marched on various roads of the provincial capital carrying Palestine flags and placards and banners inscribed with anti-Israel slogans.

Protesters criticise role of Pakistan govt, call for practical steps

Those who addressed the rally included Allama Maqsood Domki of MWM, Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi of Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Abdul Qadir Luni of JUI-N, and Abdul Kabir Afghan of PkMAP.

They expressed their anger and dismay over the attitude of the US, Europe and Muslim countries who were silent over Israel’s genocide of Pale­s­tinian children and women.

They called upon leaders of Muslim countries and launch a joint struggle for freedom of Palestine.

“It is time to stand up with the people of Pales­tine who are struggling for liberation of Al Aqsa mosque and their country from the illegal occupation of Israel,” they said.

They urged the United Nati­ons and all human rights organisations to come forward and stop Israeli crimes against Pales­tinian women and children.

They bitterly criticised the role of the Pakistan government and said that practical steps were immediately need­­ed for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop deaths and destruction in Palestine.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2024