- Millions gathered in Karachi, adorned with arm and headbands bearing inscriptions such as “Labbaik ya Gaza” (Gaza, we are here) and “Labbaik ya Aqsa” (Aqsa, we are here), demonstrators gathered along Shahrah-e-Faisal. They also chanted the same words.
- JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman dubbed Israel as a “terrorist state,” accusing the US and some European countries of being complicit in “Israeli war crimes.”
Millions gathered a long a Main Street a long the southern port city of Karachi on Sunday, participating in a rally expressing solidarity with Palestinians and to denounce Israeli bombardment on Gaza.
The march was led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), one of the country’s mainstream religiopolitical party, with the backing of several other political parties and trade associations.
Sporting arm and headbands engraved with slogans “Labbaik ya Gaza” (Gaza we are here), and “Labbaik ya Aqsa” (Aqsa we are here), the protesters rallied at Shahrah-e-Faisal. They also chanted the same words. A large number of women and children, as well as religious minorities, were part of the march, with organisers claiming over a million people participated.
The protesters chanted “down with Israel” in unison, as JI chief Sirajul Haq, along with other politicians, formed a human chain.
Addressing the rally, Haq expressed concern over growing number of casualties in Gaza, accusing Tel Aviv of deliberately targeting civilians. He said, adding that Palestinians will never surrender to subjugation:
“Palestine is a part of our faith. We will never leave you (Palestinians) alone.”
Criticizing the “double standards” of the West, he said, the US and Europe had different benchmarks for Palestine and Ukraine. “You support Ukrainians in their war against occupation, but justify the Israeli subjugation of Palestine,” he said.
JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman dubbed Israel as a “terrorist state,” accusing the US and some European countries of being complicit in “Israeli war crimes.”
