Protests @ LUMS against Israeli agression & International communities role in Gaza crisis.

Students at LUMS held a protest today, Tuesday, the 6^th of January, against the continuing, genocidal Israeli assault on the people of Gaza. Over a hundred students assembled on the LUMS campus in the afternoon, holding placards denouncing and condemning the illegal and unjustifiable Israeli aggression, as well as the stark inadequacy of the response of the international community, including the government of Pakistan.

Various students and distinguished members of the faculty, like Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais and Mr. Abdul Rehman Mustafa spoke on the occasion, highlighting the plight of the people of Gaza and the complicity of the United States in their oppression. The US government was chided for thwarting all international efforts to broker a ceasefire between the warring parties. Shock was expressed at the lackadaisical attitude of the United Nations Security Council in brokering a ceasefire and addressing the gargantuan problems of the Gazans. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the 2 year long blockade of the territory by Israeli forces was also highlighted by the students, with appeals made to lend a practical helping hand through the provision of humanitarian aid to the terror-stricken residents.

The students spoke about the need to continue their efforts to contribute to the international pressure being built on the Israeli government to withdraw their forces from Gaza and lift the illegal blockade.

In the end, the students put their names and signatures to a petition being sent to the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice by Amnesty International to urge the US to prevent the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.

After offering Fateha for the deceased and praying for an end to the suffering of those caught in the ugly conflict, the students then dispersed peacefully.