The Muttahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) observed a protest day on Friday against the government of Pakistan for making contacts with Israel. Protest demonstrations were staged outside the mosques after Juma prayers and the government's policy of accepting hegemony of Israel and India was condemned widely.
The MMA leaders and Imams deliver speeches and the recent meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Istanbul, Turkey came under fire.
MMA Central leader and Secretary General Jamaat-i-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan said in a statement here that the protest was observed across the country.
He deplored Kasuri's meeting with Israeli foreign minister, describing it as reversal of Pakistan's traditional policy on Palestine and Al-Quds.
JI leader stressed that the government should give up any direct or indirect contacts with Israel so long it is occupying Arab lands, in particular Al Quds.
Syed Munawar Hassan dismissed the Israeli pullout from Gaza as a farce and said Pakistan's stance of not recognising Israel must continue until there was a complete withdrawal from Palestinian lands.
He further said the MMA would continue its protest against making contacts with Israel by the government.
KARACHI: A large number of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) supporters on Friday held protest demonstrations outside city mosques against Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri's meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Istanbul.
The MMA President and Amir Jamat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain had given a call for observing 'black day' and holding protest demonstrations after Jumma prayers against the unprecedented meeting between senior Pakistani and Israeli officials and termed it a step towards recognising Israel.
A huge protest demonstration was held outside Pathan mosque in Moosa Lane Karachi after Jumma prayer, which was addressed by senior MMA leaders, MNAs, MPAs and Senators of the religious parties' alliance.
Protestors were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against Israel, United States and government of Pakistan and vowing not to let the government to recognise Israel without establishment of a free and independent Palestinian state with Bait-ul-Muqadas (Jerusalem) its capital.
They also chanted slogans against President Pervez Musharraf, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and US President George Bush.
On the occasion, they also set afire effigies of Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and Israeli flags and vowed to resist all efforts aimed at recognising Israel.
MMA MNA Muhammad Hussain Mehnati in his speech condemned the meeting of Pakistani and Israeli FMs and termed it a betrayal with Muslim Ummah and thousands of Palestinian Muslims, struggling for independence from Israeli occupation.
He alleged that the said meeting was held on the dictation of US President George Bush, who was trying to transform Pakistan into a secular state like Turkey and Egypt with the help of President General Pervez Musharraf.
MMA leader said Pakistani people would never let government to recognise Israel with consent of Muslims of whole world and vowed to continue agitation against the steps being taken by the government.
Jamat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi Amir Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui bitterly condemned the 'illicit relations' established between Pakistani and Israeli governments and termed them a humiliation for whole Pakistani nation.
Criticising President Pervez Musharraf, he said all his steps were against the collective interests of Muslim Ummah as he was following US policy of dividing Muslims and hunt them separately.
MMA Karachi President Hafiz Taqi and Allama Hasan Turabi said Israel was an illegal state for Muslims of whole world as even of Islamic countries, who had had diplomatic ties with it, were not in favour of having any kind of contacts with the Zionist regime and its people.
They condemned the move and termed it treachery with Palestinian Muslims and adding vowed not to let the government take any step against aspirations of Pakistani people.
Several demonstrations were also held outside major mosques in all 18 towns of the city, including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Gulberg, Malir, Saddar, Badlia Town, Landhi and Malir, which were attended by thousands of MMA activists besides common people.
They torched effigies of President Pervez Musharraf, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and Israeli flags and termed the meeting of Kasuri with Israeli official as a shameful act for Pakistani people.
There are reports of protest demonstrations in many other cities of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Jacobabad.
Our correspondent adds from Lahore: Present rulers have informally recognised Israel and are seen motivated to make formal announcement in this regard just to please America against the saying of Quaid-e-Azam.
Secretary General Jamaat-i-Islami, Syed Munawar Hasan stated this, while addressing a rally outside Mansoora here on Friday in protest against the meeting of Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Istanbul, Turkey.
Amir JI Qazi Hussain Ahmad had given a call to observe protest day on Friday against this meeting.
Munawar maintained that a single person has no right to formulate Pakistan's foreign policy. He said that Israel has emerged as biggest land mafia in the world, which forcefully expelled Palestinians from their homeland.
He further said that Israeli's eviction from Gaza strip is mere a deception.
Speaking on this occasion, JI Naib Ameer Hafiz Muhammad Idrees condemned the holding of meeting between Pakistani and Israeli foreign ministers. He claimed that Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri met his Israeli counterpart on the directions of General Pervez Musharraf and thus exposed him as pro-Jews.
He demanded immediate resignation of Khurshid Kasuri and announced that he would be received with black flags on arrival to the country.
Amir JI Lahore Amir ul Azeem also spoke on the occasion.
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