KARACHI – April 14, 2025:
In a powerful display of solidarity with Palestinians, thousands of Karachi residents took to the streets on Sunday, answering the call of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) for mass protests following the recent fatwa of jihad. The protest was to pressurise the Pakistani government to act on the Fatwa to support to Palestine, as Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza continues to claim lives.
Massive crowds gathered along Shahraah-e-Faisal and Shahraah-i-Quaideen, waving Palestinian flags and chanting against Israeli aggression. The demonstrators demanded an immediate response from Pakistan’s leadership, calling for practical steps beyond diplomacy. Key speakers emphasized that the time for symbolic gestures has passed, and the state must act decisively in defense of the oppressed in Gaza.
JI chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, addressing the crowd, said Karachi had “once again proved that it represents the entire Muslim world.” He condemned the role of the United Nations as ineffective and accused world powers, particularly the United States, of enabling Israel’s “massacre of women and children.”
“Our founding fathers rejected Israel. So should we. If our government continues its cowardice, history will not forgive it,” Rehman said, announcing a countrywide shutter-down strike on April 22 in protest.
The protests also cast a shadow over the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), as empty stadiums reflected growing public discontent. Many protestors linked the declining attendance to widespread boycotts of the tournament due to sponsorships associated with Israeli-linked brands.
Chants calling for a boycott of the PSL were heard at the rallies, with demonstrators urging citizens to reject any event or product that indirectly supports Israeli interests. Organizers and participants alleged that continuing the PSL under such sponsorships was an affront to national sentiment and a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
“While our brothers and sisters are being bombed, how can we cheer for a game funded by brands linked to the very forces killing them?” said one protestor holding a placard that read, “No Cricket with Complicity.”
From powerful speeches to symbolic displays such as sculptures of dead children and massive Palestinian banners, Sunday’s protests sent a clear message: the people of Karachi – and Pakistan – will not remain silent.
With momentum building across cities, pressure is now mounting on the government to take concrete action, not only diplomatically but militarily, in support of Palestine.
The spirit of resistance, fueled by religious duty and moral obligation, continues to grow — and Karachi is leading the charge.
