KARACHI: On the appeal of the Palestine Foundation Pakistan, ‘Nakba Day’ was observed across the country on Friday to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Special prayers and demonstrations were held after Friday prayers in mosques nationwide in support of the Palestinians’ right of return and to condemn what participants described as Zionist oppression and acts of terrorism marking 78 years since the establishment of Israel.
The central protest was staged outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC), where leaders of political and religious parties, lawyers, artists, teachers, students and members of civil society gathered in large numbers.
Protesters carried Palestinian flags, placards and banners featuring images of slain Palestinian, Iranian and Lebanese leaders and citizens. The banners carried slogans supporting the global campaign for Palestinians’ right of return, condemning Israel and the United States, and calling for an end to American and Israeli aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran.
Among those present at the demonstration were Dr Sabir Abu Maryam, Dr Meraj ul Huda, Allama Baqar Abbas Zaidi, Nadeem Awan, Pandit Vijay Maharaj, Sardar Magan Singh and several others.
Addressing the gathering, speakers termed Israel’s existence in Palestine as “illegal and illegitimate”, stating that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had foreseen the consequences of the creation of a Zionist state in Palestine and had maintained that Pakistan would never recognise Israel.
The speakers said Palestinians had been suffering continuous destruction and displacement for the last 78 years, while millions of Palestinians continued to live as refugees in different countries with hopes of returning to their homeland.
They urged the federal government to pass resolutions in both the National Assembly and Senate supporting the Palestinians’ right of return.
The participants also congratulated the people, armed forces, and government of Pakistan on what they called the completion of the first year of the “victory of the battle for truth,” pledging national unity against external threats and conspiracies.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026
