KARACHI: A leading religiopolitical party, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan, (JUI-F) announced it would organize a “million march” in the southern city of Hyderabad against Israel today, Sunday, to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The march will take place as tensions in the Middle East surged late Friday night after Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership. Iran’s prominent nuclear scientists and the chief of its Revolutionary Guards paramilitary force were killed in the attack, which Tehran said claimed 78 lives and injured over 300.
Iran has since then conducted retaliatory strikes against Israel. So far, at least nine people in Israel have been killed and over 300 others injured since Friday, as per media reports.
In a statement released to the media, a JUI-F spokesperson said the party’s caravans from all over the southern Sindh province are gathering at Hyderabad’s Qasim Chowk venue for the protest.
“A strong protest will be held against Israel and solidarity will be expressed with the Palestinians,” the statement said.
Israel has killed over 55,000 Palestinians in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, as per the Gaza Health Ministry. Israeli forces have destroyed vast areas of the territory and displaced about 90 percent of Gazans.
In recent weeks, more than half of Gaza has been transformed into a military buffer zone that includes the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah.
Israel’s war on Gaza has incited anger in various countries across the world, including Pakistan. Various civil rights organizations and political parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami, have held large gatherings in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other parts of the country to denounce Israel’s military campaigns in the Middle East.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will address participants of the rally, the party said.
“Strict security arrangements are in place in Hyderabad,” the statement said. “Supporters gathered at the Qasim Chowk venue are highly enthusiastic.”
Israel says it attacked Iran in a bid to discourage the Islamic country from developing nuclear weapons. Israel sees Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to its existence. It said the bombardment was designed to avert the last steps to the production of a nuclear weapon.
Tehran insists the program is entirely civilian and that it does not seek an atomic bomb. The UN nuclear watchdog, however, reported Iran this week as violating obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.
Pakistan has criticized Israel in strong words and repeatedly said Iran has the right to retaliate under the United Nations Charter. Islamabad has also vowed to offer diplomatic support to Iran at international forums.
