ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday demanded a permanent seat for the Muslim world in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Speaking at a seminar on the situation in Lebanon, Kashmir and Palestine organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the speakers stressed that it was the right of the Muslim countries to have a permanent seat in the world body, as the Muslims constituted one fourth of the total world population.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chairman Raja Mohammad Zafarul Haq called for unity in the rank and file of Muslims. He said there was a change in the approach of people and rulers of the Muslim world including Pakistan.

He urged the Muslims of Pakistan to raise their voice to condemn Israeli aggression against Lebanon. “The voice you raise against brutality does not go waste,” he remarked.

He expressed the confidence that the sacrifices rendered by Muslims in different parts of the world to achieve their rights would help unite the Muslim world.

The PML-N chairman said the US which imposed aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq was now overtly supporting Israel against Lebanon. He said Pakistan might also become the target of the United States as the agenda seemed to be to deprive all Muslim countries of the capability to cause harm to Israel.

He criticised President Gen Pervez Musharraf for addressing International Jewish Council and lambasted Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri for holding a meeting with his Israeli counterpart in Turkey.

Former Chief of Army Staff Gen (retired) Mirza Aslam Beg said there was no need for Muslims to be despondent. He said Israel which was expecting to eliminate Hezbullah in days was facing tough resistance even after passage of one month and observed that Israel stood technically defeated.

He said Israel had imposed an aimless war on Lebanon and noted that those who fight aimless wars always faced a crushing defeat.

He said Jihad had started in Lebanon and Palestine and predicted that difficult times were ahead for Israel and the United States. He said balance of power would change as there was no ideology stronger than the doctrine of Jihad.

Farid Ahmad Piracha of Jamaat-i-Islami said the war in Lebanon was not merely against Hezbullah but against the Muslim world.

He said Israel was an undeclared state of the United States which had so far received $140 billion in aid from the US. He said despite constituting one fourth of the world population, Muslims were victims of aggression because of their rulers.

He urged Muslim countries having diplomatic relations with Israel to sever them. He asked the rulers of Pakistan to apologise to the nation and the Muslim world for its recent moves to recognise Israel.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Justice (retired) Malik Abdul Qayyum, convener of the seminar Sahibzada Ahmad Raza Kasuri and Dr Aalia Imam were also among the speakers.