LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/KARACHI/PESHAWAR Various political and religious parties and organisations Monday held rallies across the county to register their protest against the barbaric Israeli attack on the flotilla carrying aid to Gaza Strip, which claimed 20 innocent lives. Expressing their anger over the adamant attitude shown by the Zionist state, the thousands of protesters urged the govt to come out open and use diplomatic channels and international bodies, like UN and OIC, to present the case of Palestinian Muslims. They also asked the govt to ensure safety of two Pakistani journalists of a local private TV channel, Talat Hussian and Raza Agha, who were a part of the convoy heading towards Gaza. In Lahore, people attended various rallies and demonstrations to protest against the Israeli attack. Addressing a rally outside Mansoora, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) headquarters, JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch, Farid Ahmed Piracha and Abdul Ghaffar Aziz said the humanity lovers all from around the globe were shocked by the attack, adding that no peace was possible in the world due to the Israels existence. The said those travelling in the flotilla were neither mullahs nor terrorists but peace-loving people. The expressed solidarity with the besieged Gaza people and prayed for the safety of Pakistani journalists. They condemned the apathy of the Muslim rulers, saying they were acting as the US agents. Dozens of activists of Hizbut Tehrir, banned extremist organisation, and Insaf Student Federation besides PFUJ and PUJ also held demonstrations in front of Lahore Press Club. In Islamabad, the journalist community staged a protest against in front of National Press Club and demanded the government to ensure the safe return of renowned journalist Talat Hussain and two other Pakistanis. A large number of journalists from twin cities, political figures and different segments of the society participated in the protest. Amid loud slogans against US and Israel, the demonstrators demanded the United Nation to take action against Israel. Addressing the protest, Secretary General PML-Q Mushahid Hussain Sayed was of the view that OIC should immediately take up the matter while Pakistani govt should pressurise the US to force Israel for the recovery of Pakistanis from illegal detention. Editor The Nation Dr Shireen M Mazari said one could easily expect such a barbarism from the country like Israel, which had an illegitimate existence on the map of the world. The US always supports Israel and in this incident it is equally involved with Israel. Our govt has not the courage to talk to the US against Israel. The Foreign Minister should be ashamed, as he could not even issue a condemnation statement, Dr Mazari maintained. PPP MNA Farahnaz Isphahani said Pakistan had no direct relations with Israel, however, the government was utilising all available sources for the safe return of three Pakistanis. President National Press Club Afzal Butt strongly criticised the UN and other international bodies for their dual role, saying these organisations had different standards of justice for Muslim Ummah. The students from different education institutions also took out protest rallies to condemn the Israeli aggression against peace convey. The Rawalpindi chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami city took out a protest rally, which started from Al Akram building and culminated outside Municipal Library. Local party leaders addressed the participants and urged all the forces fighting terrorism to take notice of the issue. And in the port City of Karachi, several organisations including Jamaat-e-Islami, Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PLF), Pasban, Islami Jamiat-e-Talba and journalists fraternity staged protest demonstrations and condemned illegal action by the Zionist regime. Addressing the demonstration organised by JI outside the Karachi Press Club, JI leaders Prof Ghafoor Ahmed and Mohammad Hussain Mehanti described the attack as against the international law and said the world community should take action against Israel. They criticised the dual policy of the US for creating hatred against her in the Muslim world. They further urged the Muslims rulers to come forward and play their role to support the oppressed people of Palestine. Criticising the role of United Nation, OIC and other human rights organisations, the JI leaders said Mondays attack had proved that Israel posed an existential threat to the humanity. The PLF took out a rally from Karachi Press club to American Consulate, which was led by Jafferia Alliance President Allama Abbas Kumaili, Qazi Ahmed Noorani Siddiqui from Markazi Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat, Maulana Hassan Zafar Naqvi from Majlis-e-Wadat-e-Muslimeen Central leader, KPC President Imtiaz Faran and others. They urged the Muslims from around the world to unite and stand up against the Zionist state. They demanded govt to summon the US ambassador to register protest over the attack, saying, Israel is the illegitimate child of the US. The journalist community in Peshawar also staged a protest against the Israeli aggression and demanded immediate action to recover the Paksitani journalists. The protestors, led by President Khyber Union of Journalist Syed Bukhar Shah, were holding banners and placards, inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands and early return of Pakistani journalists and other relief activists.