Countrywide protests against Israel

Protesters chant slogans against Israel outside the National Press Club in Islamabad. PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI: Protests were held across the country on Tuesday in order to condemn Israel’s attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy, the “Freedom flotilla”.

Karachi Police detained several people protesting against Israeli aggression. The Imamia Student Organisation took out a rally which started from Zainab Market in Karachi. The rally’s destination was the US consulate, but the police managed to stop them at the Fawara Chowk. Police resorted to aerial shelling and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were arrested while no causality was reported in the incident.

A large number of social activists gathered near the national press club in Islamabad to condemn the Israeli attack on the flotilla. A prominent activist Tahira Abdullah said, “We have gathered here… to condemn Israel’s barbaric act against peace activists”.

In Quetta, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) took out a procession and held a demonstration in front of the Quetta Press Club. The rally was led by provincial president of the PKMAP, Usman Kakar. Protestors carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans against the US and Israel.

Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has termed Israel’s attack on the flotilla “a shameful incident of state terrorism,” adding that this blatant strike should be condemned in unequivocal terms. In a statement issued in Lahore on Tuesday, Nawaz urged the international community to take measures in order to guard the world against the recurrence of such incidents.

Also, activists of political, social and religious organisations including journalists came out on the streets of Sukkur to show their disapproval of the Israeli action. More than 100 media personnel staged a protest demonstration in front of the Sukkur Press Club. The protest was led by president Sukkur Union of Journalists Jan Muhammad Mahar.

A rally was taken out by the Jamiat Ulema Pakistan as well in Sukkur. Local JUP leaders expressed their resentment over the Israeli attack on the ships carrying relief goods for the Palestinians.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2010.