Pro-Palestinian Pakistani Group Launches Awareness Campaign Among Pakistanis; Karachi Art Exhibition Highlights Palestinian Struggle

(Image courtesy: www.plfpakistan.com)

In late March 2011, the Palestine Liberation Foundation (PLF) of Pakistan held a two-day art and sculpture exhibit at the Karachi Arts Council. A Pakistani media report said that the exhibit was titled "Revolution for Freedom" and showcased the plight of Palestinians and their struggle.[1]

Members of the Pakistan Association of Press Photographers and students from the University of Karachi also displayed their work. "Prominent themes at the exhibit included tyranny, oppression of the Palestinians, the hardships faced and the everyday lives of the people living on the Gaza Strip," stated a report on the website of the Dawn newspaper.[2]

According to a report in The Express Tribune daily, exhibit organizer and PFLP main spokesman said that the display focused on freedom movements all over the world, and added: "The main purpose of the exhibition is to unite the Muslim Ummah. We wish to send a message from here to the sufferers that we stand by them."[3]

The following are excerpts and images from the reports and from the PLF website:

Art Student: "Before his Project, I Knew Only As Much About the Situation in Palestine As I Know About Kashmir"

The Express Tribune report noted: "A colorless Palestinian flag pinned on to the Arts Council wall reassures the Palestinians that 'we [Pakistani students] can feel your pain.' Life is still waiting, it reads. The modified flag is part of the exhibition at the two-day Freedom Fair organized for the second time by the Palestine Liberation Foundation Pakistan… Art students, photojournalists and political activists joined hands and pens to show solidarity with Palestinians' suffering…

"A visual arts student, Jahanzaib, told The Express Tribune that he is proud to contribute to the cause. 'Before this project, I knew only as much about the situation in Palestine as I know about Kashmir.'

"Jahanzaib used candles to represent the Palestinian flag. The burning green, black and red candles were bound in chains, much like the struggling Palestinians, while the tranquil white ones stood unlit at the borders, representing the youth of the country. A withered tree stood nearby – a metaphor for dead ancestors – with a Star of David in the background and scattered nails symbolizing those who died in the struggle.

"Another piece that captivated the audience was a very accurate metal model of Masjid Aqsa with a bird chained to it. The chain was made entirely of little Stars of David. In a separate room, cartoons and photographs displayed a macabre version of the atrocities of war on the people in Palestine. Work by 12 photojournalists depicted several protests held in the country for Palestinians' rights.

"Jamaat-e-Islami vice president Prof. Abdul Ghafoor also visited the fair. 'People in Palestine are not fighting against any one person, community or nation; they are fighting for their rights,' he said…"

Pakistani Religious and Political Leaders Laud PLF, Saying: "Defense of Palestine is Defense of Pakistan"

According to the PLF website, the PLF launched its mission in Pakistan in May 2008, "to highlight the true picture of Palestine to the people of Pakistan and to unite the people of Pakistan irrespective of their religion, caste, language, political affiliation at one platform to express solidarity with Palestine people."[4]

At an Islamabad conference held by the PLF and the Anjuman Tulaba Islam in March 2011, various Pakistani political and religious leaders lauded the PLF for its role in spreading awareness about the Palestinians among the Pakistani people, noting that "defense of Palestine is defense of Pakistan."[5] Among those who expressed this view were Raja Zafarul Haq of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party; Dr. Ziaul Haq, dean of the Islamic University; Haroon Rashid, president of the Islamabad Bar Council; Muhammad Akmal Kayani of PLF and of Anjuman Tulaba Islam; etc.

In February 2011, the PLF announced a countrywide awareness campaign among the people of Pakistan about "the brutality of illegitimate regime of Israel against the people of Palestine."[6] The announcement came at its annual convention in Karachi, attended by representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) party, Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan, Majlis Wehdat Muslimeen and others.

Images from Exhibit

Following are some images from the Karachi exhibit, as reported by Suhail Yusuf for dawn.com:[7]