JI chief demands end of violence against Rohingya community

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Siraj-ul-Haq said that the violence against Rohingya community in Myanmar should end immediately while addressing a rally in Islamabad’s Red Zone on Friday.

“God has directed us to help the oppressed,” he remarked, adding “We have gathered here to awaken people’s collective conscience.”

Urging the need for the international organisations to take a stance on the matter, he said that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation should immediately summon a session on the persecution of Rohingya community.

On the protest, Siraj said, “We have not harmed either the police or any property.” 

Religious organisations, political parties, students and members of the civil society are holding a demonstration in the Aabpara area of the federal capital to protest the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The protesters are demanding to march onto the diplomatic enclave and the removal of obstructions in their path. 

Negotiations are ongoing between the local administration the protestors. 

The capital’s administration blocked all entry routes into the Red Zone to avert any potential move by the rally’s participants to enter the Red Zone, which houses the Diplomatic Enclave as well.

Sources said the Islamabad Police have deployed around 7,500 personnel to secure the rally, which include officials of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary. The main procession will be taken out by the Jamaat-e-Islami, whose chief Sirajul Haq is expected to lead the rally. 

Islamabad Traffic Police have issued a route plan to ensure that commuters of the twin cities are not disturbed as a result of the protest.

Interior minister's caution

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in a statement, urged protesters to remain peaceful, saying the sanctity of the Red Zone should be respected.

"Pakistan’s standing in the world will be hurt in case of any incident of violence in the Red Zone," said Iqbal, adding that it is Pakistan's national duty to safeguard diplomatic missions. 

The Pakistan Awami Tehreek has also announced to hold a rally over the issue in Lahore. The party will protest in front of the Lahore Press Club. 

Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl held protest rallies across the country since Friday morning. 

Nearly 150,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh since August 25, when insurgents of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launched attacks on security forces in Rakhine State — where they reside. 

The number of those killed is unclear, but in some estimates has crossed 1,000 people. 

Myanmar does not recognise the 1.1 million Rohingya as citizens, labeling them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

On Thursday, the federal cabinet, which met in Islamabad with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair, passed a resolution condemning the persecution of Rohingya Muslims under the direct patronage of state institutions of Myanmar.

The resolution said brutal acts perpetrated against the unarmed civilian population not only constitute state terrorism, but also question the collective human conscience across nations and societies.

The resolution called upon Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to take immediate steps to stop the atrocities being committed in Myanmar where her party is in power.

It also called upon the United Nations to take the lead in stopping immediately the cold blooded and callous genocide of Rohingya Muslims.