On Anniversary Of October 7 Attack, Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Calls For An Islamic Military Force To Fight Israel: 'Islamic Countries Possess A Large Force; If They Do Not Use It Now, When Will They Do It?'; Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik Urges 'NATO-Like Alliance For Resolving The Palestine Issue'

On October 7, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the 2023 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, an all-party conference was organized at the President's House in Islamabad. Leaders of several political parties and religious organizations expressed support for Palestinians, and former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for an Islamic military force to fight Israel. Earlier, the exiled Indian preacher, Dr. Zakir Naik, who is on a month-long official tour of Pakistan, called for a NATO-like alliance of Islamic nations to aid the Palestinians and resolve the conflict.

The all-party conference, hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was attended by: Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister and chief of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) party; Maulana Fazlur Rehman, emir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party; Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan; Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM); Ijaz-ul-Haq, the son of former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq and leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Z); Sarwat Qadri from Sunni Tehreek; and others.[1]

Addressing the conference, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is brother of the current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and arguably the most influential politician in Pakistan, told the religious and political leaders present: "The worst atrocities are being committed in Gaza. The entire region has been turned into scenes of destruction. But sadly, the world has adopted silence. The UN is sitting helpless."[2]

According to a report in the Urdu daily, Roznama Ummat, Nawaz Sharif proposed "a military alliance of Islamic countries, and said that Islamic countries possess a large force. If they do not use it now, when will they do it? Perhaps, another moment will or will not come for using it, but today is the time. Israel is flexing muscles because international powers are behind it. They should think: over how long they will test the patience of the Islamic world and Palestine?"[3]

In his address, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the urgent need for the international community, especially the Muslim World, to act swiftly to establish a ceasefire in Palestine: "Immediate halting of the ongoing barbarism and bloodshed in Gaza and Palestine is the need of the hour."[4] The prime minister said, according to a media report: "It is the time for the Muslim World to move forward and take practical steps to prevent Israel from further bloodshed in Palestine."[5] Shehbaz Sharif also announced that teams of experts from Pakistan will be sent to the world capitals, to highlight the issue of Palestine.[6]

Pakistani religious and political leaders' meeting at the President House, Islamabad.

Addressing the meeting, President Zardari said: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. We will continue to raise the issue of Israel's violation of human rights at every forum. Peace cannot be established without resolving the Palestinian problem in accordance with the [UN] Security Council resolution. There cannot be peace in the Middle East in the absence of a two-state solution."[7] President Zardari's view favoring a two-state solution was quickly rejected by religious leaders at the conference.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, dismissing a two-state solution, said at the conference: "From this platform, only a message of one independent Palestinian state should issue. It was also the position of Qaed-e-Azam [the founder of Pakistan, M.A. Jinnah]. Qaed-e-Azam's stance was that Israel is an occupier force. A two-state solution or the 1967 position negates Qaed-e-Azam's principled stand. Palestinians are fighting against the illegitimate Israeli occupation in accordance with the United Nations Charter. A two-state solution provides reasoning for the existence of Israel. The silence of Arab and Muslim countries has empowered Israel."[8]

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief, also "asked Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] to call a conference of the heads of state of Muslim countries, and also invite the chiefs of the armed forces of those countries; there is a need to increase aid to the Palestinians..."[9]

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, also addressed the conference, saying: "Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam will not support a two-state solution. There is no justification for a two-state solution. This is a land of Palestinians. The kind of insensitivity the Islamic Ummah has shown over the past one year is a crime. Pakistan is also an equal party to this crime of insensitivity. A resolution passed by this conference will not eradicate the pain of Palestinians. The Palestinian brothers do not need our empty talk. Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, and other Islamic countries should join hands and build a shared strategy."[10]

Zakir Naek, a state guest of Pakistan, is welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Dr. Zakir Naik, the exiled Indian preacher currently touring Pakistan as a "state guest," earlier told Pakistani journalists that there is a need "to build a NATO-like alliance for resolving the Palestine issue."[11] The preacher currently lives in Malaysia.

Zakir Naik, wanted in India for hate speech, money laundering, and radicalization of youth, was received officially at the Islamabad International Airport by Dr. Syed Attaur Rehman, the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on September 30. Among those who welcomed him were Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs Shamshir Ali Mazari and the Prime Minister Youth Program Chairman Rana Mashhood. During the tour, Naik is scheduled to meet with government officials, to address public gatherings in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, Peshawar, and lead Friday prayers.[12]

Addressing journalists in Islamabad, Zakir Naik said: "NATO has 32 member countries. If there is an attack on any country, then it is considered as an attack on all the countries... 57 Islamic countries too [who are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC] should form an alliance based on the principles of NATO. But it is sad that Muslims are victims of division."[13]

Asked what Muslims should do about the Palestinian issue, Zakir Naik said: "Regarding this, every Muslim at the least can pray, and the best time for it is the time of Tahajjud [post-midnight prayer]. There is a need to spread awareness on social media platforms. We should boycott Israeli products. Aside from this, at the individual level, Muslims should aid the Palestinians financially, whether it be 100 or 1,000 rupees. Allah sees the intention."[14]