KARACHI, Jan 30 – 2012
Delegates from across Asia will gather in Karachi on February 2–3 to finalize plans for the Asian convoy of the Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ), organizers announced Monday. The two-day conference will be hosted by Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PLF) and held at a local hotel.
Officials of PLF Pakistan, including former lawmaker Muzaffar Ahmed Hashami, Jamiat Ulema Pakistan leader Allama Qazi Ahmed Noorani Siddiqui, and PLF spokesman Sabir Karbalai, confirmed the meeting during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.
Representatives from Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal are expected to attend. The conference will finalize arrangements for the Asian convoy that will join the GMJ, a global campaign calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem and Palestinian lands.
The GMJ is scheduled to proceed through Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, culminating in a mass march towards Jerusalem on March 30, 2012. Delegations from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Australia are expected to participate, making it one of the largest international solidarity actions for Palestine in recent years.
According to PLF officials, the movement aims to draw global attention to the plight of Palestinians, the siege of Gaza, and what they described as the “illegitimate occupation” of al-Quds al-Sharif by Israel. Rights groups have long accused Israel of violating international law and restricting Palestinian access to holy sites.
During their stay in Karachi, delegates will also participate in a “Meet the Press” event at the Karachi Press Club on February 3 and attend an all-parties conference hosted by Jamaat-e-Islami. Organizers said the Karachi gathering reflects Pakistan’s continued support for the Palestinian struggle and its rejection of Israeli policies.
