LAHORE - Al Quds Day was observed throughout the country on Friday. Rallies, seminars, protest demonstrations and various other activities were arranged to condemn Israeli state terrorism against the people of Palestine.
Workers of political parties, religious groups and human rights organisations participated in the demonstrations. They pledged to continue raising voice for rights of oppressed Palestinians.
Jamaat-e-Islami, Milli Yakjehti Council, Milli Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Shia Ulema Council, Fiqa Jafaria Pakistan were among the organisers of the events.
Prominent among those participating in the activities included Farid Paracha, Allma Sajid Ali Naqvi, Ameerul Azeem, Hafiz Kazim Raza Naqvi, Malik Shaukat Awan, Shahbaz Naqvi and Jafar Ali.
Speakers on the occasion highlighted Palestine issue and demanded the world especially Western nations take a bold stand against cruelties of Israelis.
Carrying banners and placards, the participants demanded strong action to save Palestinian children, women and men.
Imams and Khateeb, in their sermons, called upon Muslims to get united to cope with challenges.
They called for promoting harmony and asked people to beware of miscreants and anti-state elements who wanted to create hatred among the followers of various schools of thought. They called for greater unity among Muslims to tackle the present-day challenges. They made special prayers for progress and prosperity of Pakistan, and unity of the Muslim world.
On the call of Quaid-e-Millat Jafaria Pakistan and Islami Tehreek Pakistan chief Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, rallies were held across the country to mark Youm al-Quds. In Lahore, al-Quds rally, led by provincial president Allama Syed Sibtain Haider Sabzwari, was held from Lahore Press Club to the PIA building here. Leaders of Jafaria Students Organisation, Jafaria Youth Wafaqul Madaris Al-Shia, Shia Ulema Council Lahore, Shia Women Wing, Islamic Employees and Imamia Organisation participated in the rally. The participants expressed solidarity with Palestian brothers and raised slogans against America and Israel.
Workers were carrying benners and placards inscribed with different slogans in support of their demands. They also carried pictures of Imam Khameni and Allama Sajid Naqvi. They burnt flags of America and Israel. Addressing on the occasion, Allama Sibtain Sabzwari, Allama Kazim Raza Naqvi, Allama Prof Zufiqar Haider and Shahbaz Haider Naqvi said that Bait-ul-Muqaddas is common heritage of the Muslims which has been under illegal occupation of Jewish forces and Israeli authorities. They condemned Israel’s brutality against Palestinians and praised struggle against Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, the fourth Friday of the holy month of Ramazan was offered amid tight security in provincial capital here.
According to the SSP Operations Lahore Muntazar Mehdi, the Lahore police had made tight security arrangements for Juma prayers.
Snipers performed duties on rooftops of mosques and about 9,000 police officials provided security to mosques and Imambarghas. Barbed wires were erected in and around mosques and Imambarghas.
Main congregations for Friday prayers were held at historic Badshahi Masjid, Masjid Wazir Khan, Jaamia Naeemia, Jaamia Ashrafia, Data Darbar Masjid and Jamia Tul Muntazar.
Worshippers entered the mosques and Imambarghas after thorough checking. Their vehicles were parked at some distance from the worship places during the prayers to avoid any untoward incident.
Vehicles of Dolphin squad, Police Response Unit and mobile squad remained on high alert during the Juma prayers. All SPs monitored the security arrangements in their respective areas.
