International Quds Day will be observed on the Last Friday of Ramadan

Karachi: (Palestine Foundation Information Center) At the annual Al-Quds Conference and Iftar-e-Wahdat organized by the Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PLF) at a local banquet hall on Sunday, religious scholars, orators, preachers, spiritual leaders, intellectuals, teachers, lawyers, members of the business community, student leaders, and representatives of social and human rights organizations and Hindu, Sikh and Christian leaders announced that the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan will be observed as International Quds Day.

The conference was held as part of a nationwide campaign titled “Ramadan with Palestine,” launched by Palestine Foundation Pakistan.

Among those who addressed the gathering were Secretary General Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam; Naib Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Muslim Parvez; former Member of the Sindh Assembly from MQM Pakistan Mehfooz Yar Khan; central leader of JUI-F Qari Muhammad Usman; leader of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi; Maulana Baqir Zaidi; central leader of Shia Ulema Council Allama Shabbir Maisami; Azher Ali Hamdani of PML-N, Israr Abbasi of PTI; renowned scholar Maulana Asghar Shahidi; Allama Aqeel Anjum, Allama Qazi Ahmed Noorani of JUP;Hafiz Ahmed Ali of JUI (S); Rao Kamran of Pakistan Awami Tehreek; Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain; Allama Amin Ansari; Bashir Sadozai; Hindu scholar Manoj Chauhan; Christian leaders Pastor Rehmat Lal and Pastor Emmanuel Subha; Sikh leaders Sardar Anil Singh and Sardar Arjun Singh; Erum Butt; Daniyal Jilani; and others.

According to the conference declaration, rallies, seminars, and protest demonstrations will be organized across the country on Jumu’atul Wida (the last Friday of Ramadan) to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and to raise a strong voice against Israeli aggression. The public was urged to participate in large numbers in Quds Day events and demonstrate their commitment to the oppressed people of Palestine.

Speakers strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, stating that it must cease immediately. They alleged that under the guise of a so-called peace council, Gaza is being handed over to commercial interests, which the people of Pakistan will not accept.

The speakers further stated that the “Board of Peace,” established under U.S. President Donald Trump, is a conspiracy aimed at neutralizing Palestinian resistance. They described the so-called peace council as a platform designed to weaken the Palestinian people’s right to resistance and to safeguard Israeli interests. They demanded that the Government of Pakistan immediately withdraw its participation from the Board and adopt a clear stance that Pakistan will not be part of any initiative that undermines the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.

The leaders claimed that Pakistan’s 250 million citizens consider Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal and harbor deep resentment toward him, asserting that 100% of the population strongly dislikes Netanyahu. They alleged that the Gallup survey results were manipulated and constituted a malicious attempt to create soft sentiment for Israel within Pakistan.

The speakers urged Muslim countries to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel and to adopt a joint strategy to provide practical support to the Palestinian people. They stated that recognition of Israel by certain Arab states represents a departure from the Palestinian cause and emboldens the Zionist state to intensify its aggression.

Announcing support for the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, the speakers said these groups are defending their land against Israeli occupation and have every legitimate and legal right to struggle for their freedom under the UN charter.

The conference also emphasized that the right of return for Palestinian refugees is an inalienable right recognized by United Nations resolutions. The speakers called for a free and transparent referendum in historic Palestine, in which all original inhabitants, including Palestinian refugees living abroad should be allowed to decide their future.

Among those who attended the conference were Allama Mirza Tahir, Pir Syed Ashrafi, Khalil Noorani, Allama Nisar Qalandari, Allama Ali Kamran Abidi, Allama Badr-ul-Hasnain, Allama Sadiq Jafri, Allama Jawad Zaidi, Allama Hayat Najafi, Mufti Waheed Younis, Shakeel Qasmi, Dr. Mehboob Noonari, Dr. Sadaf Mustafa, Dr. Sobia Irfan, Dr. Maroof, Dr. Zeeshan Iqbal, Dr. Fazli Hussain, Dr. Bilal Sialvi, Dr. Madad Ali, Dr. Aamir Hussain, Maulana Haider Abbas, Hassan Raza, Daniyal Kazmi, Maaz Nizami, Syed Shabar Raza, Ibrahim Chitrali, along with numerous other prominent personalities and leaders.