ISLAMABAD: Protest demonstrations held across the country on Friday condemned Israel’s recent brutalities against Palestinians that coincided with the deeply controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

In Rawalpindi, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and others religious parties gave the call for a protest after Friday prayers. People gathered outside the Jamia Masjid and burnt the effigy of US President Donald Trump and American flags. They were chanting slogans against the US president.

Addressing rallies in Sadiqabad and Saddar areas, local leaders the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl lambasted the United States for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. They said time had come to stop Israel and the US from adopting anti-Muslim policies.

The Jamaat-i-Islami organised protest demonstrations in Afshan Colony, Tench Bhatta, New Kattarian, Dhoke Khabba, Sadiqabad and Bhabara Bazaar and other areas of the city.

The speakers on the occasion called upon Muslim countries as well as the government of Pakistan to raise at the United Nations the issue of killings by Israel of innocent Palestinians who were holding protest for their rights.

They said the US ambassador should be called to the Foreign Office and informed about the resentment expressed by people over the establishment of the American embassy in a disputed area that led to the killing of over 60 innocent Palestinians protesting against the US move.

In Karachi, the Jamaat-i-Islami organised several protests in different parts of the city in which a large number of people from different walks of life participated.

Addressing the main protest demonstration held outside New Town Masjid near Guru Mandir, JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman condemned the Israeli aggression and urged the Muslim rulers to unite against the US move.

“It’s not a diplomatic issue but a matter of our faith, belief and religion,” he said. “We appeal to the global community to play their due role and put pressure on Israel. The entire world should come forward against its barbarism.”

The Palestine Foundation also held a rally outside Memon Masjid near Boulton Market to show solidarity with the Palestinians and protest against the Israeli aggression.

Addressing the rally, speakers said Muslim countries should raise their voice against the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians. They also condemned the silence of the United Nations and human rights organisations on the aggression of the Zionist regime and its allies against innocent Palestinians.

Various political and religious parties staged demonstrations and take out rallies across Punjab to condemn the Israeli aggression on unarmed innocent Palestinians.

PML-N president and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said in a statement that the Israeli army had crossed all limits in brutalising the innocent Palestinians and grossly violated the human rights. He said the world would have to come forward to halt the atrocities against the unarmed citizens.

The Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamaatud Dawa, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Pakistan Ulema Council, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen and other religio-political parties staged demonstrations in various areas of Lahore and took out rallies in major towns of the province to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.

The Sikh and Christian communities of Hasanabdal also expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and demanded that Israeli forces must stop killing Palestinian children and follow the way of peace and negotiations with the international community and Palestinian Authority.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018