Issue of Israeli aggression in Gaza be raised at the upcoming SCO meeting in Islamabad: Hafiz Naeemur Rehman
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, Oct 07 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has urged that the issue of Israeli aggression in Gaza be raised at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Islamabad.
Speaking at an All-Parties Conference held at Aiwan-e-Sadar, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned that India might support Israel during the SCO discussions but emphasized the importance of isolating such a stance.
The conference was hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari and attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with leaders of various political parties from both the government and the opposition.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman further called on the government to convene a summit of Muslim-majority nations and other allies of Palestine to address the ongoing crisis. He suggested inviting the military chiefs of Muslim countries to develop a strategic plan to halt the genocide in Gaza.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stressed the importance of extending financial and medical aid to Gaza, along with offering scholarships to Palestinian students. Additionally, he highlighted the need to bridge the Shia-Sunni divide, which, according to him, some factions are trying to exploit to weaken the unity of the Muslim world. He urged Islamabad to engage both Saudi Arabia and Iran in forging a united stance on Palestine, commending the recent understanding between Tehran and Riyadh, which has helped mitigate sectarian tensions. He noted that Israel is increasingly targeting Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon, making unity within the Ummah more urgent than ever.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also warned against adopting the two-state solution for Palestine, arguing that it contradicts Pakistan’s historical stance and the vision of its founding leaders. He called Hamas a legitimate resistance force representing the Palestinian people and urged Pakistan to officially recognize the group and establish an office for it in Islamabad.
Meanwhile thousands of people across Pakistan participated in rallies marking Palestine Solidarity Day, following an appeal by Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. The rallies were held to commemorate one year since the onset of Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman led the march in Islamabad, where he reaffirmed Jamaat-e-Islami’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. He strongly condemned the silence of Arab and Muslim leaders in the face of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, while also denouncing the open support provided by the United States to Israel.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Washington is supplying weapons and financial aid to Israel, which he claimed are being used to kill Palestinian children, and labeled the U.S. as “the world’s biggest terrorist.”
JI Secretary General Amirul Azim and Vice Emir Dr. Usama Razi led solidarity marches in Lahore, while Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch headed the rally in Rawalpindi. Jamaat-e-Islami’s provincial leaders organized marches in Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar, with women and children also taking part in the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman condemned the recent killing of two Chinese nationals in a suicide attack at Karachi airport. Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, he urged the government to ensure the security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan, calling the attack a conspiracy to undermine the strong ties between Pakistan and China.