Pro-Jerusalem rallies: Protests erupt against Trump

Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek Labaik and other religious parties hold separate demos

LAHORE: Hundreds of people rallied across the city under the banners of different religious organisations against US President Donald Trump’s decision in which he recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

On Friday, organisations including Jamaatud Dawa (JUD), Islami Jamiat-e-Talba and Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held demonstrations at different venues such as the Lahore Press Club, Chuburgi Chowk, Punjab University and the American Embassy.



JUD chief Hafiz Saeed said his party would hold a public gathering in Lahore. He continued that the US president’s decision was a serious violation of international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions.

“It is a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms. It signals a severe blow to the settlement of the Palestinian crisis,” he maintained. Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah also protested at the Lahore Press Club. Maulana Ashraf Asif Jalali, in his telephonic address, said the decision would overturn the peace process and security of the Middle East.

He added Pakistan called on the UN Security Council to take steps according to the relevant charter.

“Al-Quds is the most respectable of holy places for Muslims. Not only would Palestinians be a target of this measure, but the entire Muslim world,” he said.

In another rally on Sharah-e-Quaid-i-Azam, JI chief Sirajul Haq also spoke over the phone and said Trump’s announcement sent alarm bells ringing and was tantamount to sprinkling salt on fresh wounds.

The JI chief urged Muslim rulers to shun cowardice and show courage against the US and its president.  He continued that no sane person world endorse Trump’s “mischievous” announcement. Diraj noted that China, Britain, Russia, Germany, France and other major countries had demonstrated sense and sensibility by rejecting Trump’s decision.

He urged Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to attend the Rabita Alam-e-Islami meeting as a spokesman of the nation. He said it must be known that Pakistan was on the frontline of thwarting any nefarious designs.

JI deputy chief Hafiz Muhammad Idrees, addressing the Friday congregation at Mansoora Mosque and a protest rally on the Mall, said Palestine and Kashmir had been under occupation due to the failure to implement UN resolutions.   He claimed the global community was condemning Trump’s announcement.

Another resolution

The opposition benches also demanded the government strongly condemn US President Donald Trump’s decision. Three resolutions had been submitted in the Punjab Assembly out of them two were submitted by the opposition legislator, while another was from a woman legislator of the treasury.

This time, the demand was put forward by PTI legislator Shoaib Siddiqi through his resolution. He said Trump’s proclamation hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world. He said the actions of the US president were sending the world towards a world war. He said the people of America were also worried about the decision of Trump.  He demanded the government force President Trump to withdraw his decision.



Lawyers protest

The legal fraternity also strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to accept Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. They termed it was “a step towards violence in the entire region”.

The lawyers, wearing black bands, chanted slogans against the US. They took part in the General House meeting held by the Lahore High Court Bar Association to show solidarity with Palestinians.

Addressing the meeting, the lawyers said that Trump’s decision was against the peace and an open violation of the fundamental rights of Palestinians and They said the American president did not care about the world’s resistance to his decision of accepting Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2017.