lAHORE - President Donald Trump’s decision to move US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem drew ire from Punjab chief minister, politicians and social activists.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned President Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
“Religious sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims have been hurt by the Trump’s decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” he rued.
The CM said instead of advancing the peace process, the US move has dealt a blow to the efforts. He went on to say: “Palestinians have been deceived again. With this reckless and irresponsible US policy reversal, the goal of finding a two-state solution has become even more distant. The world has rightly been outraged by the action of Trump administration, whose understanding of history is fickle and self-serving.
The chief minister endorsed President Erdogan’s comment wherein the Turkish leader had said that by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the US has crossed the red-line for Muslims. He warned that the step has opened wounds and exposed the Middle East to a new era of fresh uncertainty and chaos.
He said that the world can ill-afford such narrow-minded policies that seem to insult the intelligence of the people. He said that the Palestinians’ right to have an independent homeland of their own is sanctioned by the United Nations resolutions and the world conscience. Instead of taking steps to reignite peace process, the United States under President Trump has complicated the regional situation that has graver implications for the world peace in general and the stability and peace of Middle Easti in particular.
Shehbaz reiterated the resolve to continue with all-out support to the Palestinian cause. He underlined the need for a collective response at the level of OIC to the latest policy announcement of the Trump Administration.
Speakers at the concluding session of two-day Seerat conference arranged by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust (NPT) vowed to continue struggle for unity among Ummah what, according to them, resulted in encouraging US President Trumpt to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The speakers have also stressed the need for a leadership with character to guide the Ummah in this crucial hour.
The Seerat Conference was concluded at the Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan on Thursday. It was presided over by Peer Abdul Khaliq Qadri, a direct descendant of Astana Alia Bharchundi Sharif.
Speaking on the occasion, Peer Abdul Khaliq Qadri condemned the US President Trump move of declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel and termed it dangerous for the international peace and harmony. He called upon the Ummah to form a joint strategy against this development.
Chief Justice (r) Mian Mahboob Ahmed said the Muslim Ummah should seek guidance from the life of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) to deal with the emerging challenges.
Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha said just unity can be effective to deal with the challenges of present day world.
Qari Muhammad Zawwar Bahadur sought a strong leadership to respond to the situation, saying that the Muslim Ummah should rise above personal differences to tackle it jointly.
Among others who spoke on the occasion included Qayyum Nizami, Allama Naseer Ahmed Qadari, Asif Tanveer Awan and Shahid Rasheed.
On Wednesday, Jamaat-e-Islami, Milli Muslim League, Jamaatud Dawa, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and other religio-political parties expressed concern over the US president decision.