Lahore: Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) organised protests in several cities on Thursday against what it described as Houthi drone attacks targeting Makkah, with protesters expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and calling for protection of the Haramain Sharifain (Two Holy Mosques).
Hundreds of people participated in demonstrations held in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Sukkur and other cities. The protesters raised slogans against the Houthis and in support of Saudi Arabia, carrying banners and placards inscribed with messages including ‘Saudi Arab se rishta kia, La Ilaha Illallah’, ‘Attack on the Kaaba is the worst form of terrorism’ and ‘Protection of the Haramain is part of our faith.’
In Lahore, a demonstration was held outside the Lahore Press Club, where PMML President Khalid Masood Sindhu, Vice President Hafiz Talha Saeed, Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Chaudhry Hameed-ul-Hassan Gujjar, Engineer Adil Khaleeq and others addressed the participants. The speakers said the Haramain are sacred to Muslims across the world and protection of the holy places is a collective responsibility of the Muslim Ummah. They alleged that hostile forces are seeking to create divisions among Muslims and said continued attacks by the Houthis are a matter of concern.
In Sheikhupura, Khalid Masood Sindhu, Hafiz Talha Saeed and other speakers said Makkah and Madina are centres of Muslim devotion and maintained that the Muslim world is united in protecting their sanctity.
In Islamabad, Inam-ur-Rehman and others addressed a protest outside the National Press Club, while a large number of citizens participated in a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club, where Ahmed Nadeem Awan and others spoke. In Gujranwala, a protest was held at Sheikhupura Mor bus stop under the banner of PMML. Markazi Kisan League Chairman Chaudhry Zulfiqar Olakh and others addressed the gathering. The Muslim Women League also organised a rally in Nankana Sahib, which was attended by a large number of women. Protests were also held in Sukkur and Mor Khanda, while demonstrations and rallies were reported from Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Hafizabad, Bahawalpur and Mian Channu.
The PMML said nationwide protests would also be held on Friday and urged religious scholars to make protection of the Haramain a subject of their Friday sermons.