Karachi: A massive Gaza Solidarity March was held in Karachi on Sunday under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), as tens of thousands of citizens, including women, children, and differently-abled participants, rallied on Shahrah-e-Faisal to denounce Israeli aggression and express unwavering support for the people of Gaza.
Participants carried placards and banners condemning the Zionist regime and its supporters for the genocide in Gaza. The march resounded with slogans of resistance and solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians.
Addressing the rally, JI Pakistan Ameer Engr. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman issued a stern warning to Islamabad, stating that any deviation from Pakistan's historic policy on Palestine - laid down by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah - would not be tolerated. He recalled that even before Pakistan's creation, the All India Muslim League passed resolutions in support of Palestine alongside the Pakistan Resolution in 1940.
'There is only one state - Palestine - and one leadership - Hamas,' he declared, urging the government to recognize Hamas as the legitimate representative of Gaza and to support their resistance.
Naeemur Rehman strongly cautioned the government against recognizing Israel or signing the Ibrahim Accord, warning, 'Don't dare to accept Israel or join any accord that betrays the cause of Palestine.'
He condemned the United States for backing Israeli war crimes and genocide, asserting that Washington had 'no moral authority to speak on humanity.' He stated that despite Israel's military power, it had failed in Gaza and could not secure the release of its soldiers held by Hamas.
'Hamas is a legitimate resistance movement under the UN Charter, and its armed struggle is lawful,' he said, adding that Muslim rulers' cowardice, not Hamas, was responsible for ongoing massacres in Gaza.
Calling for a new global order, Naeemur Rehman said the United Nations had become an agent of the US and Israel, failing to resolve Muslim world crises. He demanded the opening of Hamas offices in Pakistan and urged PTI Chairman Imran Khan to voice support for Hamas from Adiala Jail.
'From Karachi's Keamari to the mountains of Chitral, the nation is united - we reject American slavery,' he declared, revealing that environmental activist Greta Thunberg had been 'tortured and forced to kiss the Israeli flag' - which he said exposed the 'true face of the Zionist state.'
The JI chief announced a nationwide solidarity demonstration on October 7 at 11 a.m., calling all Pakistanis to join global protests for Gaza. He also revealed plans for a nationwide convention at Minar-e-Pakistan on November 21-23 under the slogan 'Change the System.'
In his remarks, JI Deputy Chief Dr. Osama Razi criticized the silence of Pakistan's rulers on Gaza, urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw his controversial tweet and clarify his stance, warning of public backlash otherwise.
He lamented the 'inactivity' of PPP and PML-N on Gaza, calling them 'local agents of global imperialism,' and urged Pakistan to play a more assertive diplomatic role alongside Egypt to isolate Israel.
Other speakers included JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar, Saifuddin Advocate, MPA Muhammad Farooq, Alkhidmat CEO Naveed Ali Baig, MWM leaders Ameen Shaheedi and Baqir Zaidi, and IJT representative Abish Siddiqui.