KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Sunday urged the Muslim countries to abandon the United Nations if its Security Council could not take action to end the plight of oppressed Muslims across the world, particularly in Kashmir, Myanmar and Syria.

Addressing the participants in the Umaat-i-Rasool (SAW) march organised by his party to express solidarity with the oppressed Muslims of Myanmar and Aleppo, he urged the Muslim rulers to establish a common market, create a common curriculum and form a combined army. People from various walks of life, including women and children, students of both seminaries and colleges attended the event. Carrying placards and banners, they shouted slogans against hypocrisy of Muslim rulers as well as at the apathy of the international powers.

Accusing the UN of double standards and hypocrisy, he said such so-called international institutions did not act to end the plight of innocent Muslims. “These institutions only take action when they deem it fit in the interests of global powers. They even raise their voice for animals but don’t take any concrete step to help oppressed Muslims.”He spoke about the plight of Muslim women and children in Aleppo, and expressed regret over the silence of Muslims leaders on the issue.The JI emir said that Pakistan ought to play an active role against these brutalities. Hailing the active role of Turkey on issues relating to Muslims from across the world, he urged the Nawaz Sharif-led government to take meaningful steps in that regard.

He said the global scenario demanded Pakistan to play an active role in the affairs of the region as well as the world. Referring to the situation on Pakistan’s eastern borders, he said that “blocking flow of water to Pakistan will be a declaration of war”. He warned India not to misjudge Pakistan as “our rulers can be weak but the nation is strong enough to respond to its any adventure”. The JI chief resolved that 2017 would be the year of struggle for a peaceful Islamic revolution. He said that the JI, if came to power, would ensure social justice in society. He said the JI was determined to transform the country into a clean, green, peaceful and Islamic Pakistan.

JI leaders Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui and Naeem-ur-Rehman said that about four million Muslims in Syria had been compelled to leave their homes but no one was caring for them and no one was talking for them.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2017