- Hafiz Saeed, Liaquat Baloch, Sh Rasheed, Samiul Haq address pro-Palestine gathering
LAHORE: Politico-religious parties’ leaders on Sunday once again condemned the US president’s move of declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by holding a public gathering in Lahore.
They were addressing the Tuhaffaz-e-Baitul Muqaddas Conference, in which “thousands of people from all walks of life participated”, who vowed to sacrifice their lives for the liberation of Jerusalem.
Trump’s move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is the “initiation of new crusade and suicide attack on world’s peace”, the passionate participants of the conference alleged.
The anti-US orators also condemned Quetta church attack, saying that “attacks and explosion on Masjid and public places is an act of enmity”.
With a brief condemnation of Quetta attack, the protesters went back to bashing the US administration and Donald Trump for their support of Israel, as they called upon the Muslim rulers to initiate “jihad” against the US and Israel in order to liberate Jerusalem.
Urging Pakistan to play its part, they said, “Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi should call Islamic Summit Conference in Islamabad.” They also suggested Muslim countries to shutdown the US embassies and consulates in their respective countries.
In a thinly veiled reference to ruling PML-N, they termed abuse against Pakistan army and judiciary an agenda of Indian PM Narendra Modi, demanding that it should be stopped.
Difa-e-Pakistan Council chief Moulana Samiul Haq termed the world’s Muslim rulers puppet of America, declaring, “Our hearts are brimming with ‘Jihadi emotions’. Muslim Ummah has to fight this war [against US-Israel]. Today, we again need of Salahuddin Ayyubi [to liberate Palestine].”
He further alleged that the United States is imposing global terrorism in world, adding that the UN was complicit in erasing the religious value of Jerusalem
Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed termed Trump’s announcement as the launch of crusades, adding that Muslim rulers should accept the challenge.
He said, “Muslim Ummah has awakened against American announcement and a conclusive announcement in this regard will be made in Rawalpindi on December 29.”
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) GS Liaqat Baloch warmly welcomed Hafiz Saeed in the conference and said, “US President violated joint resolutions of the UN by announcing to move US embassy in Jerusalem. HE further said that Trump’s announcement had exposed the US strategy regarding Bait ul Muqaddas.”
“Pakistan is an Islamic country. It is an ornament of forehead of the Islamic world, palpitating heart and nuclear power. Solution of our issues consists in Muslim unity and jihad,” he added.
President Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad called the terror attack in Baluchistan an international agenda and added the “world was looking towards the minerals and treasures of Balochistan”.
“Pakistan is the fort of Islam. We have to fight for Islam and Pakistan in unison,” he declared.
Milli Muslim League (MML) chief Saifullah Khalid, while speaking at the conference, claimed Pakistanis were ready to sacrifice for the liberation of Jerusalem.
Riaz Fatyana, Sheikh Naeem Badshah, Midan Rasheed Ali, Moulana Imran Sindhu, Haji Jahangir, Hafiz Muhammad Amjid, Shafiq Raza Qadri and others also spoke on the occasion.