Several speakers at the Difa-e-Pakistan Council rally on Kasmir Solidarity Rally glorified the Taliban saying that they had compelled the US to agree to a dialogue with them. Some described it as a victory for Taliban.
The participants of the rally, to show solidarity with Kashmir, were invited to join the jihad against India.
Jamatud Dawa (JD) hosted the rally which several leaders of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) member organizations including Jamiat Ulema Islam (S), Ahle Sunnat Waljamat (formerly known as Sipahe Sihaba), Tehreek Azadi-I-Kashmir, Jamiat Mashaikh, Jamaat Ahle Hadith Pakistan, International Khatm-e-Nabuwat, Pakistan Ulema Council, Ansarul Ummat, Pakistan Muhafiz Watan Party and Jamat-e-Islami attended.
The rally started near Neela Gumbad and ended at Masjid-i-Shuhada on The Mall where leaders delivered speeches.
JD leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that theirs was the same flag, same modus operandi and same agenda (wohi jhanda, wohi danda, wohi agenda). He said jihad would continue. He said that Mulla Muhammad Umar and the Taliban had resolutely fought US forces for 11 years. He said Taliban had forced US to request Pakistan for a dialogue with Taliban. He said the mujahideen would similarly defeat India in Kashmir.
Saeed said till Kashmir is free there could be no trade with India.
The government should forget about giving India the most favoured nation (MFN) status.
JI head Syed Munawar Hasan said the way of jihad could be stopped by tanks or guns. “We have passion for jihad and martyrdom and only we will succeed.” Hasan said his party was considering calling for a long march to Islamabad to compel the government to take steps for Kashmir’s independence.
DPC Chairman Maulana Samiul Haq said the mujahideen had defeated the British and the Russians even though they had no atomic bombs.
He said they used to prepare bombs by putting acid in bottles and using them as bombs. He said regardless of atom bombs they should continue their journey against anti Islamic forces.
JD’s Head of Political Affairs Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki said 1 million people needed to be trained for jihad against the 800,000 strong Indian force. He said most of the JD members were trained jihadis but more manpower was needed.
Jamaat Ahle Hadith chief Maulana Abdul Ghaffar Ropari said his followers would support Hafiz Saeed.
Kashmiri leaders Syed Ali Gilani, Syed Shabbir Shah and Asia Andrabi also delivered speeches over telephone.
Slogans were raised against Ahmadis and against Asma Jahangir. Several speakers delivered speeches against Jahangir saying that they would not accept her as a caretaker prime minister.
About 20 children from the ages of 12 to 16 were brought tied to a rope to the rally.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.