Thousands of Pakistanis took to the streets across major cities on Friday to protest against ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, expressing unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and calling on Muslim-majority nations to adopt a united stance against what demonstrators described as Israeli aggression and genocide.
Tens of thousands of Pakistanis rallied from Karachi and Lahore to Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad, and Muzaffarabad in a unified outcry against ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The demonstrations saw political leaders, religious figures, students, and civil society groups condemning Israel’s military campaign and urging the Muslim world to take decisive, collective action in support of the Palestinian people.
Rallies were organized, mostly from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), in all four provinces as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags, chanting slogans against Israeli aggression, and calling for a boycott of products linked to countries supporting Israel. Organizers framed the rallies not only as expressions of solidarity but as a direct rebuke of the global silence surrounding what was repeatedly described as genocide in Gaza.
Islamabad: Save Gaza March
In the federal capital, the Save Gaza March organized by the Muslim Students’ Front and the Pak Palestine Forum drew a substantial crowd in Aabpara. Protestors criticized the government’s diplomatic posture and called for the expulsion of the US ambassador. In anticipation of unrest, city authorities placed containers and barbed wire to restrict access, leading to disruption for local residents and commuters.
Protest for Palestine in Islamabad
byu/ziaan-alpha inislamabad
Rallies in Karachi
In Karachi, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held over 1,000 “corner meetings” across key intersections, mosques, and community hubs. JI Karachi Ameer Munim Zafar, speaking at a major gathering in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, declared: “Sixty thousand people have been martyred in Gaza, including women and children. Ninety percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed, yet no one dares to stop Israel.”
Roads including Nishtar Road, MA Jinnah Road, and II Chundrigar were closed to accommodate protestors. ASWJ and other religiopolitical groups also organized large-scale demonstrations in areas such as Malir, Nagan Chowrangi, and Lasbela Chowk.
Lahore: “Gaza Is Calling You” draws thousands
In Lahore, a prominent rally titled “Gaza Is Calling You” moved through Mall Road to Nasir Bagh, led by JI’s Naeem-ur-Rehman. Participants criticized the West’s support for Israel and the international community’s inaction.
The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) organized a solidarity walk, where Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Younus stated: “We stand always side by side with Palestinians in their struggle for liberty from militant Israel.” Protestors held placards, waved Palestinian flags, and called on Muslim countries to unite against Israeli occupation.
Rallies in multiple districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Protests were held in Peshawar, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Torghar, and Swabi, organized by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and JI activists. In Peshawar, traders and religious groups led a joint march condemning Israeli attacks and demanding increased humanitarian support for Gaza.
At Bisham Chowk in Shangla, demonstrators burned effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, accusing them of perpetuating violence.
Quetta: Rally From Jinnah Road to Manan Chowk
Quetta saw large gatherings led by JUI-F’s district chapter. Marching from Jinnah Road to Manan Chowk, protestors called for an immediate ceasefire and condemned the complicity of global powers. “Those silent on Israeli aggression are equal partners in the massacre of Palestinians,” said Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Sharudi, JUI-F district chief.
Muzaffarabad and AJK march
Thousands in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) participated in the Labbaik Ya Aqsa March in Muzaffarabad. The rally moved through the city’s key routes and culminated at Burhan Wani Chowk. Political leaders, including Power Development Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed and Mayor Sikandar Nisar Gilani, condemned Israeli actions and criticized the Muslim world’s muted response.
Calls for Unity across the Muslim World
Protest leaders emphasized the need for a united front among Muslim-majority nations. At the Labbaik Ya Aqsa March in Muzaffarabad, speakers urged Pakistan and the global Islamic community to take decisive diplomatic actions. “The Palestinian issue is no longer just territorial—it is humanitarian, moral, and Islamic,” said Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq, Jamaat-e-Islami’s AJK chief.
Across regions, demonstrators carried Palestinian flags, burned effigies of Israeli leaders, and criticized the inaction of international institutions. In Quetta, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Sharudi of JUI-F declared: “Those who stay silent are partners in the massacre.”
Official Government response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, expressing alarm at what he termed the “silence” of global powers. “We will raise our voice at each and every international forum,” the premier said during a meeting with a delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami.
The Prime Minister’s remarks follow Israel’s renewed airstrikes on Gaza since March 18, which have resulted in nearly 1,400 casualties in the latest wave alone. The ongoing offensive—launched in retaliation for Hamas’ October 7 attack—has left over 50,800 Palestinians dead since October 2023, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian sources.
With rising public pressure over Gaza and parallel efforts to revive Pakistan’s economy, the government is walking a tightrope—balancing its foreign policy challenges with internal economic reform. The massive public mobilization across Pakistan signals that the Gaza conflict has deeply resonated with its citizens, while also presenting a moment of reckoning for the country’s policymakers.
As calls for diplomatic courage grow louder, and the export sector eyes new opportunities, Pakistan stands at a crossroads—one where moral imperatives and economic necessities converge.
Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a major Million March in Karachi and simultaneous demonstrations near US diplomatic missions across Pakistan on April 13, followed by a protest outside the US Embassy in Islamabad on April 20.