KARACHI, Amidst the ongoing violence in Gaza, Altaf Shakoor, the Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), has emphasized the urgency of forming a ‘Muslim Union’ similar to the European Union (EU) to prevent further atrocities and to establish a collective stance among Muslim countries. This statement came following the relentless violence in Gaza, which has highlighted the limitations of individual Muslim nations in safeguarding civilians from the Israeli military’s actions.
According to Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), Shakoor criticized the political disunity among Muslim nations, which he believes has allowed Israel to conduct its military operations without sufficient international reprisal. He expressed disappointment in the roles of Arab nations and other major Muslim countries, accusing them of failing to take concrete action against the violence in Gaza, where Israeli bombardment has targeted civilian structures including schools, hospitals, and ambulances.
Shakoor argued that the United Nations, perceived as an extension of Western influence, has remained indifferent to the plight of Muslims, drawing parallels with historical conflicts in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Gaza. He contended that while the West and the UN remained inactive during the mass destruction of Gaza, they previously acted on inaccurate intelligence to justify intervention in Iraq.
Highlighting a perceived leadership vacuum within the Muslim world, Shakoor stated that there is a critical need for courageous leadership to unify the Ummah (the global Muslim community) to address the present crisis. He deemed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ineffective, calling for a robust political and military alliance amongst Muslim nations, akin to the EU and NATO.
The PDP chairman also lamented the passive stance of leaders from prominent Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, in the face of the Gaza killings. He predicted that this inaction could lead to political unrest, particularly within Arab nations.
Shakoor called on the populations of Muslim-majority countries to consider forming a united block to protect their interests and resolve long-standing issues like the conflicts in Kashmir and Palestine. He suggested that social media could significantly contribute to fostering this unity.
Furthermore, he urged global powers such as China and Russia to assert themselves in the crisis, advocating for immediate humanitarian aid and the dispatch of rescue and medical teams to Gaza. Stressing the dire situation where many victims remain buried under debris, he appealed to the conscience of the world to respond to the urgent needs of the affected civilians in Gaza.