Lahore, April 6, 2025 – In a bold move to spotlight the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced on Sunday that the party would halt its regular operations to focus on a nationwide campaign of protests in solidarity with Palestinians. The decision comes amid escalating violence in the region, which Hafiz Naeem described as a “massacre” ignored by much of the world.
Addressing reporters in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem declared, “Starting today, Jamaat-e-Islami is suspending all routine activities to channel our efforts into this cause.” He unveiled an ambitious protest schedule, kicking off with nationwide rallies on Friday, April 11. The momentum will build with a major “Palestine March” in Karachi on April 13, culminating in a high-profile demonstration toward the US embassy in Islamabad on April 20. “This is not just a protest; it’s a call to awaken the conscience of the world,” he emphasized. JI Suspends Activities
The JI leader also revealed plans to send a delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians to engage with key Muslim nations, including Türkiye, Iran, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The delegation aims to urge these countries to take concrete steps to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has choked the region’s access to essential supplies. “Muslim nations must shed their indifference,” Hafiz Naeem urged, accusing them of failing to act decisively against the crisis.
Hafiz Naeem did not mince words in his critique of Western powers, particularly the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. “The West preaches human rights, yet its silence on Gaza reveals a barbarism reminiscent of the Dark Ages,” he charged. He pointed to the devastation in Gaza as evidence of global hypocrisy, lamenting the “graveyard-like silence” that has enveloped the issue internationally.
Reaffirming JI’s longstanding advocacy for Palestine, Hafiz Naeem noted that the party has consistently raised the matter with Pakistan’s government. “Even in our last meeting with the prime minister, we pressed for action on Gaza,” he said. The upcoming protests, he vowed, would amplify this demand both domestically and globally.
As JI gears up for its campaign, the planned march to the US embassy signals a direct challenge to Washington’s policies in the Middle East. With tensions simmering, Pakistan braces for what could be a defining moment in its stance on the Palestinian struggle.
