JI announces nationwide strike on 26th over Gaza

Hafiz Naeem demands opening of Hamas office in Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday announced a nationwide strike on April 26 in solidarity with ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza.

Addressing the Gaza Solidarity March in Islamabad, the JI chief lambasted Muslim rulers for their silence over the genocide in Gaza.

He warned that if the rulers did not "wake up" after the JI's million march, "then we will have to do more".

The Ji chief also demanded that a Hamas office be opened in Pakistan.

"Palestinian children are being slaughtered, our rulers are asleep, but the Ummah is wide awake," the Ji chief asserted.

"We are not afraid of bullets or guns," he declared. "Gaza has been turned into a pile of rubble. I tell the rulers to rise and raise your voice against Israel."

He urged Muslim rulers to "show some dignity in the face of oppression".

Referring to the carnage in Gaza, he lamented that 50 bodies were being buried every 48 hours.

"The success of Gaza is the success of the oppressed across the world," he added, calling on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play its role.

However, he clarified that JI does not want confrontation with the police. "When we announce a march, no containers can block our way."

He pointed out that religious scholars have issued a fatwa that jihad was obligatory under current circumstances.

"Our rulers are asleep. We had said we would march toward the American embassy, but the ruling elite is afraid of Israel and the United States. They sealed all of Islamabad."

Earlier in anticipation of the march, authorities ramped up security across the capital, sealing all roads leading to Islamabad's Red Zone.

However, after negotiations between JI and the government, authorities allowed the protest march and rally to take place on Islamabad Highway near the I-8 Bridge.

The religio-political party had announced plans to march to the US embassy on April 20 to denounce Washington's backing of Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

Earlier this month, JI also staged large-scale demonstrations in Karachi, Lahore and several other cities to protest Israel's renewed assault on Gaza.

The party has also called for a nationwide strike on April 26 against the ongoing war.

Addressing Sunday's march, the JI chief said the US was "a murderous state, backing Israel in its genocide".

"We will strike on April 26 and announce our future strategy on April 27," he told the attendees.

Calling on political unity, he said, "the people of Palestine have a bond with our kalima. I warn the rulers, don't even think of forging ties with Israel".

"Israel has occupied Palestinian land. In the US, youth are rising against their rulers. Meanwhile, neither the government nor the opposition in Pakistan is doing anything. When it comes to personal interests, even PTI and PML-N ally in Tharparkar. They negotiate with the establishment when they want something for themselves. They manage to secure pay raises but won't even condemn the US."

Urging all political parties to unite on the issue of Kashmir and Palestine, he said the Palestinian crisis was not just a religious matter but a humanitarian one. "Children are being martyred. Hamas has ensured the safety of hostages, but Israel continues its barbarism against Palestinians in custody. Jihad is obligatory upon Muslims."

"We will boycott. We will wage jihad on social media. But our rulers don't let us fight jihad," he lamented.

"If we truly care for Palestinians, we can give up our favorite foods and drinks", he added, referring to boycott of products directly or indirectly benefiting Israeli economy and aggression.