KARACHI, Feb 9: Speakers at a protest demonstration on Friday condemned the attempts being made by Israel authorities to demolish Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and urged the masses to join hands so that a strong message could be sent to the government which had not protested against the move adequately.

The demo was organised after Juma by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal at Masjid-i-Nauman at Lasbella Chowk.

Addressing the protesters, Birjis Ahmad, Zubair Khan, Haleem Ghauri, Basharat Mirza, Yunus Barai and others said Israel wanted to demolish the mosque and give its portion to Zionists.

They demanded the government to take up the issue at global level so that pressure could be built on the Israeli government against the nefarious designs.

They also asked the rulers of Islamic countries to forge unity and take up a joint stand on the issue.

They urged that the United Nations’ platform should be used to raise the issue and other countries be approached to get their support.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against the government’s apathy on the issue.

The demonstration was organised on the appeal of MMA chief Qazi Husain Ahmad and was a part of the countrywide protest called by the MMA.

Earlier, the demonstration was to be held at Baitul Mukarrum Mosque in Gulshan-i-Iqbal but its venue was changed owing to security arrangements made for the movement of General Pervez Musharaf in the vicinity.