Sirajul Haq announces protest march in front of the US Embassy in Islamabad on Sunday

LAHORE, Oct 24 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has announced a protest march in front of the US Embassy in Islamabad scheduled for this Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference in Mansoorah on Tuesday, Sirajul Haq declared that the march would serve as a display of solidarity with the people of Palestine, while also serving as a stance against the overt support extended by the US to Israeli aggression.

He urged the public to actively participate in the upcoming protest demonstrations and extended an invitation to leaders of all political parties to join in.

Sirajul Haq highlighted the staggering human toll of the conflict, emphasizing that nearly 2,000 children and women, along with 5,000 innocent Palestinians, had lost their lives in Gaza due to the Israeli attacks. He condemned the indiscriminate bombardment by the Zionist forces, which resulted in the destruction of crucial infrastructures such as hospitals and schools.

Sirajul Haq further lamented the blockade imposed by Israel on the supply of essential resources like water, food, and medicines to the people of Gaza, causing approximately 870,000 individuals to be displaced during the 18-day long onslaught.

Expressing disappointment with the government’s lack of significant support for the people of Palestine, he stated that the Muslim world had anticipated strong measures from the powerful Islamic state. He criticized other leaders of Islamic nations for their lackluster responses, accusing them of issuing hollow statements while being apprehensive about antagonizing Washington. In contrast, he pointed out the openly supportive stance of the US President towards Israeli aggression, citing a history of similar support for bloodshed, ranging from past military actions in Japan, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan to backing India and Israel in their conflicts against the Kashmiri and Palestinian struggles for freedom.

Sirajul Haq underscored the limited impact of the OIC’s ministerial-level involvement in addressing the ongoing aggression, calling for a summit to specifically address the dire situation in Gaza.

In light of the current circumstances, he emphasized that the Jamaat-e-Islami was solely dedicated to the cause of Palestine. The JI had orchestrated nationwide protest demonstrations, convened a National Palestine Conference, and established the al-Quds Committee, which consisted of members from various political parties, he said, adding the committee aimed to engage with the ambassadors of different countries in Islamabad to raise awareness about the issue.

Sirajul Haq announced the Jamaat-e-Islami’s plan to submit 10 million signed petitions from the people of Pakistan to the United Nations, urging the international body to intervene by ensuring a ceasefire and designating Israel as a terrorist state.