Protest held in Karachi against Israeli strikes on Lebanon

KARACHI: A protest demonstration was held at Numaish Chowrangi on Thursday against Israeli attacks on Lebanon, with participants saying the strikes had continued despite the recent Iran-US ceasefire that, according to the speakers, had been brokered by Pakistan.

The rally was organised on an emergency call by representative organisations of the Shia community. A large number of people attended, including religious scholars, political workers, women, young people and children.

Speakers at the gathering criticised US President Donald Trump and alleged that he had not upheld the spirit of the ceasefire. Referring to a recent statement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, they said he had indicated that a ceasefire would be observed on all fronts in the region, including Lebanon, but claimed that the US leadership had stepped back from that understanding within 24 hours.

The speakers also alleged that Washington had weakened Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts. They pointed to reported threats of tariffs on countries engaged in trade with Iran as evidence of what they described as Washington’s hostile approach.

Speakers condemn continued bombardment

Condemning the Israeli strikes on Lebanon, the speakers said hundreds of civilians, including women and children, had been killed in the ongoing bombardment. They described the attacks as a continuation of Israel’s aggressive and unlawful conduct in the region.

The protest remained focused on the situation in Lebanon and on the broader regional fallout that participants said could deepen if hostilities were not halted across all fronts. The participants warned that unless a comprehensive ceasefire is enforced across all fronts, tensions in the region would escalate further, holding the US and Israel responsible for any consequences.

According to by the speakers, the continuation of strikes after the ceasefire understanding had raised concerns among demonstrators about the durability of efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region.

The gathering at Numaish Chowrangi brought together members of the Shia community and other participants who voiced opposition to the attacks and called for a broader ceasefire to be implemented. The speakers maintained that without such a step, the regional situation could worsen further.

The demonstration concluded with participants reiterating their condemnation of the Israeli strikes on Lebanon and their criticism of the US role as described by the speakers during the rally.