Pakistan to boycott businesses supporting Israel
Supporters of the banned Islamist political party TLP chant slogans during a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan October 22, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan established a committee to identify businesses to boycott for supporting Israel in its offensive on Gaza on Saturday.
Rana Sanaullah, adviser on political affairs to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated, "A committee has also been constituted to identify such companies and products in Pakistan that may be directly or indirectly abetting Israel or forces committing war crimes against Palestinians."
This action follows an agreement between the government and the far-right political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). TLP had organised a rally and sit-in in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, which concluded late on Friday after the deal was announced.
The accord requires authorities to provide further humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and ban all products from companies supporting Israel.
Read: Govt talks TLP out of Faizabad sit-in
Islamabad also called for the global community to designate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a terrorist, declaring that Pakistan already considers him as such. The agreement states, "Netanyahu is responsible for atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Palestine, and we consider him a terrorist and demand the world community declare Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu a terrorist."
Alongside TLP representatives, Sanaullah told reporters in Islamabad, "Israel is a terrorist country, and Netanyahu has committed war crimes. Pakistan will use every possible means to help Palestinians and condemn Israel as a terrorist country." He also mentioned that the TLP and the government have agreed to expedite efforts to provide 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, including food, medicine, and other essentials.
Sanaullah urged the international and Muslim communities to hold Netanyahu accountable and bring him to justice. He stated that Islamabad is prepared to welcome injured Palestinians for treatment if the Palestinian Authority arranges for their transport. "Our schools and hospitals are open for providing education and medical facilities to the innocent Palestinians," he added.
Earlier this month, Pakistan announced scholarships for Palestinian medical students from Gaza to continue their education in Pakistan. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Palestinian students would soon enroll in medical colleges in Pakistan in batches of 20-30.