In powerful display of solidarity, disabled Pakistanis rally in Karachi to demand ceasefire in Gaza

Disabled Pakistanis stage protest in solidarity with Palestine in Karachi on May 26, 2024, to demand ceasefire in Gaza. (AN Photo)

• The rally, jointly organized by the Disabled Welfare Association and Jamaat-e-Islami, called for boycott of Israeli products
• Protesters with disabilities said those who were not disabled had no excuse to not come out in support of Palestinian people

KARACHI: Hundreds of persons with disabilities on Sunday rallied in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged people with no disabilities to come out onto the streets for the cause, in a powerful display of solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel’s war.
The war broke out in Gaza after Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,100 people, in response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
Israel launched a retaliatory offensive, widely viewed as disproportionate, in which more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Sunday’s rally in Pakistan’s biggest city of Karachi was jointly organized by the Disabled Welfare Association (DWA) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) religio-political party.
“If all our persons with disabilities can participate in such gatherings, then why those, who are not disabled, are not coming out of their homes,” said Shaina Ali, who attended the rally in a wheelchair.
“They are not even sparing the women and children there,” she said, urging Pakistanis to completely stop using Israeli products.
She praised the Western world for coming out in large numbers in support of the Palestinians.
“We are sitting here hoping for good from other countries,” Ali said, questioning fellow Pakistanis, “What are you doing for Gaza?“
Dr. Rahat, a disabled elected councilor of the JI, said people with disabilities sent out a strong message against the “genocide” of the Palestinians by coming out in large numbers.
“Our presence in large numbers here shows that every Pakistani is out there to support the people of Palestine who are faced with genocide,” he said, addressing the attendees.
Rehan Gohar, a DWA official, said these persons with disabilities had come out to support Gaza in the face of Israel’s war.
“Our message to the Muslims of Gaza is that they should not lose hope,” he said, urging Muslims around the world to unite for Palestine.
Noor-ul-Ain, a 14-year-old protester, said she was out on the street so that the Palestinian Muslims could get their just rights.
“In Palestine, they are also martyring children. Our effort is to make sure our voices reach there so that the [Palestinian] Muslims can get their rights,” she said.
“The rulers must stop Israel’s war.”
Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
In recent months, the South Asian country has repeatedly raised the issue of Israel’s war on Gaza at the United Nations through its permanent representative, Ambassador Munir Akram.