NOWSHERA: Jamaat-i-Islami provincial general secretary Shabbir Ahmad Khan on Tuesday urged Islamic countries to get united and act against Israel over Gaza killings.

Shabbir told reporters at the party’s offices in Nowshera that the Gaza death toll had crossed the 2,000 mark, while the Islamic countries had yet to make a joint effort to check Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.

He said his party had planned to take out a rally in Islamabad on August 10 to show solidarity with Palestinians brethren.

The JI leader said thousands of party workers would attend the rally at the end which party chief Sirajul Haq would address participants.

He said JI provincial chief Professor Ibrahim Khan would take a big rally from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comprising thousands of cars, motorcycles and bicycles to Islamabad for the event.

Shabbir said Palestinians were fighting the war of Islamic world to free Baitul Muqaddas from Israel and therefore, it was not only the duty of Palestinians to render sacrifices for it but also it was a matter of honour for Muslims across the world to do so.

He said non-Muslims were taking to the streets across the world to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza but Islamic states had kept mum.

The JI leader urged the Muslims across the world to join hands against Israel to protect the life and property of their Palestinian brethren.

He said Islam was a religion of peace and always talked about peaceful solution to disputes but in case of the prolonged aggression, Muslims should take up arms and fight aggressors.

Shabbir criticised the US and its allies for supporting Israel over Gaza violence and said Israel was not only the enemy of Muslims but also it was the enemy of humanity.

He said unfortunately, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had turned a blind eye to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.

“We have the right to ask the so-called human rights watchdogs, the United Nations and other world bodies about their failure to ensure protection of the life of innocent Palestinians,” he said.

JI district chief Mirajuddin, general secretary Mahajir Shah and Shabab-i-Milli, Nowshera president Iftikhar Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.

TWO GUNNED DOWN: Two people were killed and one was injured in two firing incidents in Nowshera.

A police official said Tahir Ali gunned down younger brother, Akhtar Gul, over a dispute.

He said the incident occurred after the deceased stopped his brother from abusing their father.

The official said the police had begun investigation after registering an FIR.

Also in the day, three armed men killed a youngster over a monetary dispute.

The police said Rustam Khan, Ajmal Khan and Akbar Khan opened fire on Tahir Gul, 16, and his father, Rahat Gul, after they had hot exchanges over a monetary dispute.

They said the youngster died on the way to the hospital, while his father suffered minor injuries.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2014