JI agrees not to march to Islamabad’s Red Zone for Gaza rally

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday agreed not to march to Islamabad’s Red Zone as part of its ‘Palestine Solidarity March’, instead staging the demonstration on the Islamabad Expressway, according to a party spokesperson.Earlier, the federal government sealed all entry and exit points leading to the Red Zone,except Margalla Gate where a heavy contingent of police was deployed, as JI supporters advanced towards the capital in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s bloody military campaign in Gaza. In addition, authorities sealed off the Expressway entry into Islamabad at Faizabad and closed 9th Avenue by placing shipping containers on the roads.JI Islamabad Information Secretary Amir Baloch said today that the party will march on the Islamabad Expressway.“A march will be held on Islamabad Expressway near Zero Point and a stage will be set up on H8 Overhead Bridge,” he said in a statement. “Central leaders, including Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, will address the rally.” Pakistani and Palestinian flags are hoisted at D-Chowk in Islamabad amid the Jamaat-i-Islami’s ‘Palestinian Solidarity March’ on April 20. — Umar Bacha The JI had originally scheduled the protest for Sunday at 3pm outside the US Embassy within the Red Zone. However, in response to the lockdown, JI General Secretary Amirul Azeem announced an alternative protest location in a video message. He urged participants to head toward Zero Point, at the Srinagar Highway exit near Faizabad.Due to the roadblocks and heavy rain, only a small group of protesters had reached Zero Point by around 3:45pm. They began chanting slogans against Israel and the United States. The larger contingent of protesters had yet to arrive at the new protest site.Last week, thousands of Karachi residents gathered on the city’s main roads for Gaza solidarity marches organised by two religio-political parties, where the participants expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s bloody military offensive.According to the JI’s press release, people from all walks of life attended the demonstration, called by party chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, including representative bodies of lawyers, teachers, traders, doctors and other professionals.The Israeli offensive, which began in response to Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the housing and hospital infrastructure in the enclave. The death toll is feared to be much higher due to thousands still missing under the rubble.

Get the latest news and updates from Dawn The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday agreed not to march to Islamabad’s Red Zone as part of its ‘Palestine Solidarity March’, instead staging the demonstration on the Islamabad Expressway, according to a party spokesperson. Earlier, the federal government sealed all entry and exit points leading to the Red Zone,except Margalla Gate where a heavy contingent of police was deployed, as JI supporters advanced towards the capital in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s bloody military campaign in Gaza. In addition, authorities sealed off the Expressway entry into Islamabad at Faizabad and closed 9th Avenue by placing shipping containers on the roads.

JI Islamabad Information Secretary Amir Baloch said today that the party will march on the Islamabad Expressway. “A march will be held on Islamabad Expressway near Zero Point and a stage will be set up on H8 Overhead Bridge,” he said in a statement. “Central leaders, including Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, will address the rally.

” Pakistani and Palestinian flags are hoisted at D-Chowk in Islamabad amid the Jamaat-i-Islami’s ‘Palestinian Solidarity March’ on April 20. — Umar Bacha The JI had originally scheduled the protest for Sunday at 3pm outside the US Embassy within the Red Zone. However, in response to the lockdown, JI General Secretary Amirul Azeem announced an alternative protest location in a video message.

He urged participants to head toward Zero Point, at the Srinagar Highway exit near Faizabad. Due to the roadblocks and heavy rain, only a small group of protesters had reached Zero Point by around 3:45pm. They began chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

The larger contingent of protesters had yet to arrive at the new protest site. Last week, thousands of Karachi residents gathered on the city’s main roads for Gaza solidarity marches organised by two religio-political parties, where the participants expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s bloody military offensive. According to the JI’s press release, people from all walks of life attended the demonstration, called by party chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, including representative bodies of lawyers, teachers, traders, doctors and other professionals.

The Israeli offensive, which began in response to Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the housing and hospital infrastructure in the enclave. The death toll is feared to be much higher due to thousands still missing under the rubble..