Gaza cause
Sirajul Haq, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, stated on Sunday that the youth was prepared to make sacrifices in support of Gaza, as thousands marched in Islamabad to express solidarity with the Palestinians. The rally was held in front of the US embassy in the capital.
He emphasized that the freedom of Bait-ul-Muqaddas, also known as the “Qibla Awwal,” is a matter of concern for every Muslim. According to the Gaza health ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes has now surpassed 8,000.
The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas crossed the Gaza border, resulting in 1,400 casualties and the kidnapping of 230 others, according to Israeli officials.
The United Nations and various Muslim countries have called for an immediate ceasefire, with UN Chief Antonio Guterres making desperate appeals for an end to the “nightmare” of bloodshed in Gaza. Siraj, the leader of the religiopolitical party, announced that the party would hold a ‘million march’ in Lahore on November 19.
Siraj stated, “If the US stands with Israel, we stand with the Muslims of Gaza and Palestine.” He also condemned Israel’s targeting of hospitals and populated areas, describing it as a form of genocide being faced by the Palestinians.
He further claimed that the country’s rulers, driven by fear of the US, were preoccupied with appeasing the superpower. He emphasized the strength of their faith and expressed the need for a leader like Salahuddin Ayyubi.
While he wished for a united voice from the Muslim world against the attacks, he expressed disappointment that the rulers had turned living countries into graveyards.
Gaza Solidarity March
The JI issued a call for a ‘Gaza March’ in Islamabad on Sunday, following the dispersal of its workers by the police during a protest in the capital the previous day.
The party had planned to hold a protest outside the US embassy in Islamabad but was denied government permission to travel to the Diplomatic Enclave, despite lengthy negotiations.
Instead, the party was allotted space at Ataturk Avenue in G-6 to conduct a rally addressed by its leaders. The march was eventually allowed to proceed from Aabpara Chowk to the United Nations office.
The district administration not only declared the Diplomatic Enclave off-limits but also informed the party that it would not be allowed to block the Srinagar Highway, as it had done on Saturday.
Strict security measures were implemented for the march, with 1,000 police, 350 Frontier Constabulary, and 300 Rangers personnel on duty. Four SPs and five DSPs oversaw the arrangements.
On Saturday, the police used tear gas to disperse the JI protest that had blocked the Srinagar Highway, which had started when police began arresting JI workers arriving for the protest. The district administration had maintained that permission for the protest had not been granted. Overall, Youth, willing to sacrifice for Gaza cause, marched in Islamabad in solidarity with Palestinians, according to JI Ameer Sirajul Haq.
