LAHORE: Thousands of people from different walks of life took to the streets across the country on Thursday to condemn US President Donald Trump’s announcement of recognising occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and shifting the US embassy there. Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC) and Jamatud Dawa (JuD) observed a countrywide protest day on Thursday, staging rallies and protests in all major cities, while Jamaat Islami ameer Senator Sirajul Haq and other religious groups appealed for a countrywide protest day on Friday (today). Addressing a meeting, JI ameer Senator Sirajul Haq denounced Trump’s announcement and called for unity of Muslim world to foil US plan to strengthen Zionist hold on the Muslim holy place. Sirajul Haq demanded Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to attend the OIC meeting called by Turkish President Erdogan on Dec 13, and try to play a leading role in the efforts to unite Muslim world on such a sensitive issue. He said it was time Muslim Ummah must be on one page to foil US anti-Islam challenge and to avert another world war. He said Trump wanted to kick up a world war to enable Washington save its fast diminishing image. Sirajul Haq appreciated China, France, Britain and several other European and western countries that condemned Trump’s decision, and said an emergent meeting of UN Security Council be called to raise an effective voice against Trump’ decision which tantamount to adding fuel to fire as had seriously endangered world peace. Sirajul Haq urged political and religious leadership to sink their differences and stand united against Zionist conspiracies. He called upon Ulema and Khatibs to highlight the importance of Baitul Maqdas in Friday sermons. He asked the masses to participate in protests in maximum numbers to discharge their moral and religious duty. The participants of DPC protests carried placards and banners for liberation of Palestine and denouncing US and Israel. DPC leaders announced continuing protests against US President on Friday, while DPC would hold Tahaffuz e Bait ul Muqaddas Million March in Karachi on December 10 (Sunday). In Lahore, DPC and JuD held a large demonstration outside Press Club participated by people from different walks of life. They chanted slogans against America and Israel. They carried placards containing text “Bait ul Muqaddas – waiting for another Salah ud Din Ayyubi, Alliance of Jews and Christians – Threat for world’s peace, three big devils of the world – America, Israel and India and other slogans.” Flags of America and Israel were also burned at the end of protest. DPC leader Engineer Muhammad Haris, JuD Leader Hafiz Ihsan Ellahi Wattoo, Milli Muslim League (MML) leader Tabish Qayyum, Chairman Civil Society Circle Pakistan (CSCP) Ali Imran Shaheen, JuD leaders Inaam ul Rehman Farouqi, Hafiz Masood ur Rehman Janbaz, Rehan Abdullah, Salman Afridi and Amin ur Rehman also addressed.
