Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced nationwide protests following reports of the death of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Ur Rehman condemned the reported assassination, calling it a major setback for the Muslim world. He accused Israel of attempting to eliminate resistance movements in the region, but asserted that Hamas and Hezbollah remain formidable obstacles to Israeli ambitions.

During a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq in Karachi, ur Rehman criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for not strongly condemning the reported Israeli actions. He stated that Israel fears not Muslim rulers, but Muslim leaders, and that despite its actions, Israel has ultimately failed to quell Palestinian resistance or end the movement for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Rehman highlighted the resilience of Palestinians, stating that while they are collecting their dead, their rulers remain silent. He accused the Pakistani government of inaction in the face of Israeli aggression and called on Muslim countries to publicly denounce Israel’s actions.

He criticized Prime Minister Sharif’s address to the United Nations on the issues of Palestine and Kashmir, deeming it insufficiently forceful. He noted that the Irish Prime Minister had chanted “Israel Murdabad” (Death to Israel), suggesting that Sharif could have taken a similarly strong stance.

Rehman further asserted that Pakistan’s ruling class is beholden to the United States and that Muslim rulers are failing to fulfill their responsibilities. He claimed Israel suffered a defeat on October 7th, 2023, and its intelligence systems have been compromised, leaving it to attack only unarmed civilians. He blamed the Muslim ruling class, acting in accordance with US interests, for empowering Israel and warned that inaction would lead to further suffering.

The JI chief announced nationwide protests, including absentee funeral prayers for Nasrallah. These protests, he stated, will also address issues such as rising inflation, high electricity prices, and taxation policies. He accused the government of breaking promises to the people and criticized political parties for failing to act. He vowed that the protests will continue until the people’s grievances are addressed.