RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The International Quds Day was observed to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians, here on Friday.

Like other parts of the country, a mammoth Quds Day rally was taken out in Karachi.

Quds Day is observed to condemn Israeli occupation and to support establishment of Palestinian state with al-Quds (Jerusalem) as it capital.

However, this year, Quds Day participants and leaders focussed their criticism to the so-called deal of the century by the US.

Thousands of supporters of Palestine, including women and children gathered near Sea Breeze building. They had come from various parts of this metropolis to attend the main Quds rally after Friday prayers. Chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, the protesters marched towards Tibet Centre passing through M.A. Jinnah Road.

They were carrying Palestinian flags, portraits of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Imam Khomeini, Imam Khamenei, Syed Hassan Nasraullah and Palestinian resistance movement leaders. They were seen waving Palestinian flags and the banners inscribed with pro-Palestinian slogans. Many were carrying images of Al-Aqsa Mosque. They were raising slogans against Israel and United States.

Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) organised the rally in collaboration with many other parties such as Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Shia Ulema Council (SUC), Jafaria Students Organisation (JSO), Asgharia Students Organisation.

Tight security arrangements were made by law-enforcement agencies (LEAs). Imamia Scouts also assisted them.

International Quds Day is observed in many countries on the last Friday (Jumma-tul-Wida) of the holy month of Ramazan on a call from Imam Khomeini who introduced Quds Day to support Palestine cause.

JUP-N leader Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair, Ummat-e-Wahida leader Allama Amin Shaheedi, Allama Shahenshah Naqvi, Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain, ISO President Qasim Shamsi and others spoke.

They rejected US deal of the century which they said aimed to sell out Palestine. They vowed to continue to support Palestinians. They said founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal had staunchly opposed Jewish state on Arab majority Palestine even before its creation. Seminars, conferences, demonstrations and pictorial exhibition were also held by various organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and Palestine Foundation.

Pakistanis largely attend Quds Day rallies to condemn Israel’s illegal occupation and violation of inalienable rights of Palestinians.