Pakistan observes day of mourning for Gaza

Pakistanis on Friday observed a day of mourning across the country to express solidarity with the victims of Israeli aggression on Gaza in line with an announcement made earlier by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The national flag flew at half-mast at the parliament, the presidential residence, the prime minister’s residence, and at other government buildings.

Some political and religious parties observed the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as “Al-Quds Day,” and “Solidarity Day” to express solidarity with the families of Palestinians killed and injured in Israeli ground and air attacks in over last two weeks.

Religious scholars used their Friday sermons to highlight the issue in thousands of Mosques across the country.

Pakistan’s Shiite organizations traditionally observe the last Friday of Ramadan as “Youm-ul-Quds,” with countrywide rallies and protests. Thousands of activists of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimin, a conglomerate of various Shiite groups in Pakistan, marched on the roads in southern port city of Karachi.

“War will continue till the liberation of Bait-ul-Muqqadis,” ” End siege of Gaza,” “Long Live Hamas,” “Long Live Hezbollah,” were the slogans raised by protesters who carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans supporting the Palestinians’ struggle.

The protesters set Israeli and American flags on fire.

Jamat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamic party, which observed the day as a “solidarity day with Gaza,” held countrywide protests and rallies denouncing the Israeli aggression and the silence of the international community, especially from Muslim countries.