Raising "Free Palestine," slogans, just at the main gate of the founder of Pakistan - Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah's mausoleum, the participants of Global March to Jerusalem for Al-Qudus Freedom 2012 vowed to fight for the fundamental rights of the occupied Palestinians here on Tuesday.

 

 

The participants were from Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Somalia, Oman and India while the march was organised by Palestine Liberation Foundation of Pakistan (PLFP).

The members of General Union of Palestine Students - Pakistan chapter, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and other religious and civil society organisations attended the event.

 

 

Interestingly, an Indian flag was seen rising along with the Pakistani and Palestinian ones inside the Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum, as the visitors from the neighbouring country paid a standing homage to the founder of Pakistan along with other participants of different countries and offered prayers.

 

 

The continued freedom March will lead now to Iran en route Quetta, Balochistan, then Turkey, Jordan and will end in Lebanon to found a human chain to enter Jerusalem for the independence of Al-Qudus- a religious place sacred for the followers of all three religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

 

 

The participants had banners in hands and flags of different countries and scarves around their necks to symbolise unity with Palestinians.

They were also chanting slogans of "Free Kashmir," "Down with Israel," "Down with the US," and "Al-Qudus for All".

One of the banners read as "Boycott Israel".

 

 

An Uzbek participant of the Freedom March, Ghulam Sakhi, who was well fluent in Pashto, told Business Recorder that he came to attend the event in Karachi to show his countrymen's sentiments to share solidarity with Palestinians.

He said, "I stayed along with three of my friends in Karachi just to attend the Freedom March to show solidarity with the Palestinian nation," adding that he would also travel back to Quetta and then Iran along the March passage.

 

 

President of General Union of Palestinian Students- Pakistan chapter, Fadal Abbas told Business Recorder that some 33 Arab students from Palestine, Jordan, Oman and Somalia had attended the March in Karachi and showed gratitude to Pakistani nation for their support to the Palestine cause.

He said, adding that Pakistan being a brotherly country always extended its support to the occupied Palestinian nation.

Abbas studies engineering in Karachi.

 

 

A Canadian student of Jordanian origin- Ahmed, 20, who studies medicines in Karachi expressed thanks to Pakistanis for their overwhelming support to the just cause of Palestinian nation.

He said his nation also wanted to see Palestine as an independent state.

 

 

Earlier, JI's Sindh Ameer, Assadullah Bhutto along with JI's Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mehanti and other representatives of different originations welcomed the participants of Freedom March at the entrance of the Mazar-e-Quaid.

Addressing the participants, Bhutto urged the Pakistani nation to continue its support until Palestine emerged as an independent state on the world map.

He said Quaid-e-Azam's vision behind creation of Pakistan was to support the Muslims of world.

 

 

He said the Pakistani nation would also continue its efforts to free Al-Qudus from the illegal occupation of Israel.

He said Pakistanis had never recognised Israel as an independent state and would never do in future.

"JI and Pakistanis would step by step support and struggle for the Palestinian cause," he assured the Palestinians.

Arab students and the participants of the freedom march also performed a Palestinian dance - called "Dabaka" at Mazar-e-Quaid.