Pakistan

Protestors condemn Israel

Zahid Gishkori May 31, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The pre-dawn Israeli attack on a flotilla which left more than 20 civilians dead brought hundreds of demonstrators to the streets in the federal capital on Monday.

Around 1,000 protestors, including journalists, traders, students, parliamentarians and religious leaders, demanded that Israel be
held accountable for its actions.

“What do you expect from a state that even the United States fears and can’t do anything to stop them except use empty diplomatic threats?” Mavi Memon, MNA from PML-Q said.

The protestors demanded the international community to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and termed the raid international terrorism.

“Israel should make no mistake that their inhuman behaviour will be dealt with in the severest manner,” a protestor told The Express Tribune.

The protestors were carrying anti-Israel banners and placards and chanting slogans against the Jewish state. Most of the messages on the banners called upon the international community to take notice of this “atrocity” and take the steps to prevent Israel’s “brutal activities.”

A few banners read: “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the freedom of Muslims in Palestine.”

The Freedom Flotilla, made up of nine ships, was transporting pro-Palestinian activists and 10, 000 tons of aid for the people of Gaza. The fleet also carried television anchor Talat Hussain and producer Raza Agha.

MNA Farahnaz Ispahani of PPP, Senator Mushahid Hussain and MNA Marvi Memom of PML-Q, Senator Enwar Baig, Akhunzada Chattan, Jamaat-i-Islami Leader Liaquat Baloch, Traders’ leader Ajmal Baloch, President Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists Ashfaq Sajid and Kashif Abbasi were some of the people that led the protests in the capital.

Religious party Jamaat-e-Islami also organised a separate rally against Israel on Monday.

They chanted “down with Israel and America” and called for an end to all diplomatic relations with those countries that were “conspiring against Muslim world.”

“The Muslim Ummah should wage jihad against such prepostrous acts. We counteract such conspiracies”, a protester said while shouting slogans against Israel.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 1st, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

Faris R | 14 years ago | Reply Excellent point by Mr. Hamayun as we are more concerned about some souls who died across the world but we are least concerned about our own back-yard. I opine that Israel has every right to defend itself as it is a voice of sanity in the entire Middle East region. Jews have been persecuted all over the world and they deserve peace. All Aid should go through Isreal after checks and balances as it is their territory and they cant let it free for all. Isreal should handle the palestinians more sternly as Palestinians are root cause of all mayhem surrounding the world. For them its a cat and mouse play to beat the Goliath. They should accept Isreal and live peacefully in co-existance in Greater Isreal rather a seperate state. We already have lot of marganalized small nation states in ME. There is extreme homophobia and anti-semitism in Pakistani press and this impression should be dispelled. Good job Israelis in defending your nation against hooligans from Turkey and else where.

Humayunm | 14 years ago | Reply This is really sickening. They're protesting for Palestinians half way around the world but they can't speak up when people in their own country are being massacred? Where was this lot after the Lahore carnage? Are the lives of the 10 people who died aboard the Flotilla worth more than the 90 lives lost of our fellow citizens? It disgusts me. Don't get me wrong though, I'm in no way supporting Israel's actions. They did something really unjust and nefarious and must be held accountable for it. But at the same time, shouldn't issues at home be more important to all of us? I'm tired of people sitting in Pakistan crying about what is happening with Muslims around the world. It is about time people realize its not about religion, its about humanity.

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