As Pakistan labels Israel’s PM a ‘terrorist’ it must keep its own extreme elements under control

The Pakistani government has officially decided to recognise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “terrorist”, stating that Tel Aviv is an “entity committing war crimes.” Urging the international community to do the same, Islamabad cited the mass civilian casualties in Gaza, made up mainly of women and children, since October last year.

The move came after the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan Party (TLP) held protests in the country, with activists protesting in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, and representatives from the TLP also held a joint press conference last week to share an agreement, announcing a boycott of products and businesses that support Israel.

A committee has also been constituted to identify companies and products in Pakistan that may be directly or indirectly abetting Israel or forces committing war crimes against the Palestinians,

Sanaullah said.

The move was welcomed by Hamas, which said Pakistan’s declaration was a “step towards supporting our people who are subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Zionist terrorists and an expression of the genuine historical positions of the Pakistani people, government and parties in support of the first cause of Muslims.”

Pakistan does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and its passport bars citizens from travelling to the Zionist country. Islamabad supports the two-state solution, including an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Out of support for the Palestinians in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, many Pakistanis have repeatedly called for a boycott of Israeli products and companies seen as supportive of the occupation of the Palestinian territories and current war on Gaza. In April, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a non-binding resolution Pakistan presented on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), calling for “an end to the sale, transfer and diversion of military arms and equipment to Israel.”

Pakistan’s designation of the Israeli PM as “a terrorist” is a continuation of a global outcry against Netanyahu for his egregious warmongering and apathy for civilians in Gaza. This is further highlighted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu

Pakistan’s designation of Netanyahu as a ‘terrorist’ echoes the sentiments of millions and only seems fair. However, Islamabad must not become indifferent to the right-wing extremist parties in the country trying to pull the strings by cashing in on the plight of Palestinians for their parochial gains.

The radical TLP has a history of bringing the government to its knees through public agitation and violence. In 2017, thousands of its supporters held a nearly three-week sit-in against an amendment to the oath for parliamentarians bringing the capital to a standstill.

The TLP has given ammunition to divisive, hateful rhetoric in the country as its leaders and followers regularly make their presence known in mob-like situations where several people, accused of blasphemy, have even been brutally killed.

Recently, a local tourist was dragged from a police station and killed by a mob in north-west Pakistan after being accused of blasphemy, a trend often instigated by fundamentalists like the TLP.

The party is notorious for hate-speech and violence against the already persecuted Ahmaddyias in the South Asian country and must not be allowed to become the flag bearer or the voice of the Palestinian struggle in Pakistan.

Despite its historic support for Palestine, Pakistan cannot be oblivious to radical extremists in the country hijacking the Palestinian cause. Curbing its own militancy and safeguarding human rights, particularly of minorities, will only give more legitimacy to Pakistan’s efforts for a just Palestinian struggle.

READ: Arab League strengthens boycott of companies that support Israel

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