Pakistan

Condemnations abroad, condemnations at home

International condemnations started pouring in over Israel's actions on Monday.

Express May 31, 2010

International condemnations started pouring in over Israel's actions on Monday.

The United States said it 'deeply regrets' the loss of life in the incident, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was 'shocked' by the deadly Israeli raid.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was a "clear need for Israel to act with restraint".

The Israeli Ambassador to Turkey was summoned to explain his country’s storming of a Turkish aid ship sailing to Gaza.

Meanwhile in Istanbul, police protected the Israeli consulate from stone throwing protesters who tried to take over the building. A more peaceful protest later involved readings from the Qur’an and holding Palestinian flags. In Ankara, the Turkish capital, the Israeli Ambassador’s Residence has also attracted a protest gathering.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the 'inhuman' act would lead to the country's demise, while Turkey's foreign ministry added the act may lead to "irreparable consequences" in bilateral ties.

Greece has also withdrawn from joint military exercises with Israel and the European Union has also called for an inquiry into the deaths.

Arab League chief Amr Mussa also slammed the deadly Israeli military raid as a "crime" and called a meeting of the 22-country organisation about the attack on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas slammed the deadly Israeli raid, calling it an outright 'massacre', and announced a three day mourning period to condemn the massacre.

Local protests

Several protests have been held across the country to condemn the use of force by Israel against the humanitarian mission delivering aid to Gaza.

Journalists took out a protest in Lahore, chanting slogans against Israel and demanding the immediate release of all those taken into custody.

Journalists in Gujranwala took out a rally from Press Club to G.T road and urged the international community to end diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, they also demanded that the government file a case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

Demonstrations were also held in Hyderabad and Sukkur, while traders in Peshawar took out a protest rally against Israeli aggression.

Meanwhile, Mushahid Hussein has tweeted the following:

@Mushahid Good news:Flotilla's Pakistan team - Talat Hussain/his boys, Khubaib Foundation chief Nadeem Ahmed Khan & his Turkish wife -all safe & sound

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that no Pakistani citizen died or was injured during Israel’s raid on Freedom Flotilla ship.

Malik said that he recieved information from Interpol regarding three Pakistani citizens, and according to Interpol’s information all of them are safe.

COMMENTS (12)

Nisar Khattak | 13 years ago | Reply @Wajid Sorry Sir, with my humble and limited knowledge, I could not judge your post to be of any relevance except a deliberate diversion and entangling the shallow wits like me into a labyrinth of undue confusion with you yourself enjoying online the self-invoked sport of verbal wrangling leading us no where. Please don't ask us your crafts - honestly refer to religion (preferably Islam if you profess it) and your will get not only the answers but also the divine enlightenment to guide the idiots like myself and my friends ante (with all apologies).

Ammar | 13 years ago | Reply Attacking a vessel in international waters is by no means self defense as they claim it is.. These culprits shud be punished severely to set an example!! http://uknowatih8.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-hate-it-when-israel-gets-off-scot.html

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

ash | 13 years ago | Reply Attack the boat 50 miles inside international waters, kill as many as possible , take the rest for proocessing, jail a few and deport

musawir shahid | 13 years ago | Reply Muslim showed thier strenth and.... jazba jehad

junaid | 13 years ago | Reply @wajid: is there any mosque/temple etc in vatican city?

Wajid Ali | 13 years ago | Reply I have a question for you people -If a boat full of people sailed for the Nejd and demanded freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia , what would you do? Assume that the people are asking for the right to freely propagate their religion in Saudi Arabia, the right to build churches, synagogues, temples, to explain their religion, to convert Muslims if they so choose Would you A)Turn back the boat B)Allow the boat in to Saudi, convince the people and if it fails deport them C)Allow them , agree with them and ask Saudi government to get secular and allow them to preach their religions D)Get the boat in, offer them to convert to Islam and if it fails apply the relevant blasphemy laws against them E)Any other option (please explain) Awaiting your answers

Uzee | 13 years ago | Reply "Iranian President said the ‘inhuman’ act would lead to the country’s demise"....hats off to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad!!!

Syed A Mateen | 13 years ago | Reply Israel is a killer country on the world map and does not care about international norms. The role of Israel for the past six decades has been as of an aggressor which is not acceptable by the peace loving nations. US have failed in making Israel to understand that its policies as an offender country cannot bring peace and tranquility in the Middle East Region. Due to US unwanted support, Israel has become an uncontrollable country and this has made Iran to think to wipe out Israel from the world map. In the light of an attack by Israeli forces on the aid six-ship flotilla, all Muslim countries should recall all the diplomatic staff from Israel. I am worried about the Aaj TV’s Director of News Talat Hussian who was on board on the six-ship, as he was on board with the aid and was suppose to reach Gaza today.

F Alam | 13 years ago | Reply There is no reason for getting angry with Israel. Follow what they have done and it is easy to become powerful, such as: Start a channel (avoid the words like Al Jazeera) and portray yourself as impartial, while being highly selective! Make a big pressure group with letter writing supporters. Like AIPAC start supporting selective congressmen/politicians and make them reliant on your funding for their politcal campaigns. You'll see the difference soon!

Murtaza Ali Jafri | 13 years ago | Reply Thankful that Talat made it out ok. Why hasn't our Government thrown a tantrum yet? After all, perfect opportunity to deflect international pressure on Israel...for something they actually DID....you know...other than existing which according to our passports we officially still have a problem with.

Hammad | 13 years ago | Reply As always Israel will get away with just a slap on the wrist :(

Nisar Khattak | 13 years ago | Reply It is unfortunate that the Muslim world particularly Pakistan is regularly being pushed into a situation where the wretched masses are simply compelled to register violent protests. Be it the cartoons issue, or Israeli onslaught - all seem to be stage-manged and probably by design. In both the cases, US responded first, but with lip service regrets only. Not even an insane would digest the idea that US is helpless to control such conspiracies. A sorry predicament for Pakistanis - 'Condemnations abroad, condemnations at home.' Well, only divine intervention would probably deliver the condemned.

Replying to X