Scores of pro-Palestine activists from at least eight countries marched in the city to voice support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
The participants of the Global March to Jerusalem for Al-Qudus Freedom 2012 gathered at the Jinnah Mausoleum in Tuesday’s afternoon and vowed to fight for the fundamental rights of their “brethren” in occupied Palestine.
The participants hailed from Indonesia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Somalia, Oman, India and Pakistan while the march was organised by the Palestine Liberation Foundation of Pakistan. The General Union of Palestine Students-Pakistan chapter, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and other religious and civil society
organizations also participated in the event.
Interestingly, an Indian flag was seen rising along with the Pakistani and Palestinian ones inside the Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum, as the visitors from the neighbouring country paid a standing homage to the founder of Pakistan along with other participants of different
countries and offered prayers.
The Freedom March would now head to Iran en route Quetta, Balochistan, then Turkey and Jordan and finally end in Lebanon to form a human chain to enter Jerusalem for the independence of al Qudus- a religious place sacred for the followers of three religions –
Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
The participants had banners in hands and flags of different countries and scarves around their necks to symbolise unity with the Palestinians. They chanted slogans including “Free Palestine”, “Free Kashmir”, “Down with Israel”,
“Down with the US”, and “al Qudus for All”.
General Union of Palestinian Students-Pakistan chapter President Fadal Abbas said 33 Arab students from Palestine, Jordan, Oman and Somalia attended the march.
