Pro-Palestinian Protests Held Throughout Pakistan By Arshad Mehmood/The Media Line Pakistan witnessed widespread demonstrations across major cities on Friday as citizens rallied to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemn the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Political parties and civil society organizations from various backgrounds took part in the protests. In Lahore, the capital city […]
World
The Media Line: Pro-Palestinian Protests Held Throughout Pakistan
Audio By Carbonatix
Pro-Palestinian Protests Held Throughout Pakistan
By Arshad Mehmood/The Media Line
Pakistan witnessed widespread demonstrations across major cities on Friday as citizens rallied to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemn the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Political parties and civil society organizations from various backgrounds took part in the protests.
In Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, a large rally under the name Gaza is Calling You was held following Friday prayers. The procession, which began at Mall Road and passed through Nasir Bagh, was led by Naeem-ur-Rehman, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan party.
Earlier this week, Jamaat-e-Islami organized a similar protest, marching from Mall Road to the US Consulate in Lahore.
Speaking at the rally, Naeem-ur-Rehman strongly criticized what he described as “continued violence against Palestinians,” and urged the international community to break its silence. He also called on Muslim-majority countries to adopt a unified stance in response to the situation in Gaza.
He also expressed concern over reports that social media activity critical of Israeli actions is being monitored, including by the United States.
In Peshawar, protest rallies were held at multiple locations on Friday to express solidarity with the people of Gaza and to condemn the ongoing violence in the region.
Organized by Jamaat-e-Islami and supported by various civil society groups, the demonstrations featured calls for peace and justice. Participants voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for a boycott of Israeli products as a symbolic gesture of protest.
On Friday, a Save Gaza March was held in Islamabad’s commercial hub of Aabpara, organized by the Muslim Students’ Front and the Pak Palestine Forum. In anticipation of the protest, the federal capital administration placed containers and barbed wire around the area, leading to some inconvenience for local residents and commuters.
The demonstration drew a large number of citizens expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, with participants calling for a boycott of Israeli products and of entities perceived to support Israel.
Speakers also urged the government to reconsider its diplomatic ties, including calls for the expulsion of the US ambassador in response to Washington’s stance on the ongoing conflict.
Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Islamabad on April 20.
Additionally, both Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party have jointly called for a Million March on April 13 to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Raja Muhammad Jawwad, a member of the Central Advisory Council of Jamaat-e-Islami, told The Media Line that his party “strongly condemns the continued and disproportionate use of force by Israeli authorities in Gaza, which has resulted in immense civilian suffering, including the tragic loss of countless innocent lives.”
He added that “the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza calls for an immediate and coordinated response from the international community. The principles of peace, justice, and human rights must be upheld without further delay.”
Jawwad urged global institutions, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other regional stakeholders, to take meaningful and practical steps to help end the violence and ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. He further noted that diplomatic, political, and economic avenues should be utilized to encourage accountability and to work toward a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, over the past three days, three Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets and one Domino’s Pizza branch in Karachi were targeted by unidentified individuals, resulting in property damage but no reported injuries. According to police, the incidents appear to be linked to public outrage over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Since the onset of the latest conflict in Gaza in October 2023, several Western brands have come under scrutiny in various Muslim-majority countries amid growing calls for boycotts. These campaigns, often aligned with the objectives of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement—a global, Palestinian-led initiative advocating for nonviolent measures to urge Israel’s compliance with international law—focus on entities perceived to have economic ties with Israel or its military.
Although not officially listed by the BDS campaign, KFC has drawn criticism from some pro-Palestinian groups and individuals who believe its presence in Israel may indirectly support the ongoing conflict.