The monthly meeting of the Hamdard Shura Rawalpindi-Islamabad chapter was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Speaker Professor Niaz Irfan, former Chairman of the Federal Board of Education, in which distinguished jurist Dr. Aslam Khaki Advocate participated as a guest speaker. He, along with other intellectuals, said that Israel is oppressing Palestinians and India is oppressing Kashmiris. Citing a 70% increase in child deaths in Gaza over the past year, prominent intellectuals at a forum have declared that Muslim countries have become “silent spectators” to the growing crisis in Palestine.

This was stated during the monthly meeting of the Hamdard Shura Rawalpindi-Islamabad chapter, where legal expert Dr. Aslam Khaki Advocate and other speakers highlighted a report from the daily Al-Jazeera. According to the October 2025 report, approximately 20,000 children have been killed in the past year due to ongoing operations.

Citing the recent statement of the UN Secretary-General, the speakers said that Gaza has been declared a “graveyard for children,” which is a major test for humanity. They argued that support for Jewish interests within the United Nations enables Israeli actions against Palestinians, while a similar situation allows India to oppress Kashmiris.

During her address, the National President of Hamdard Shura, Mrs. Sadia Rashid, affirmed that Pakistan has always supported the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and human rights. She stressed that for lasting peace, a ceasefire must be accompanied by justice, dialogue, and respect for human dignity, calling it a collective global responsibility.

Mrs. Rashid described Pakistan’s foreign policy as valuable and commendable, characterized by moderation, balance, and mutual respect in relations with countries like the United States, China, and Russia. She also emphasized the deep connection between the situation in Afghanistan and regional stability, stating that the prosperity of the Afghan people guarantees the future of the entire region, especially Pakistan.

The intellectuals collectively suggested that the Muslim Ummah must advance in technology to promote unity and play an effective role in establishing global peace. It was also mentioned that eight countries have come forward as guarantors for a ceasefire in Palestine, and Pakistan has shown restraint in its conduct regarding Afghanistan.

The forum, chaired by Professor Niaz Irfan, was titled “Global Peace, Palestine Ceasefire, Pakistan’s Foreign Policy, and the Role of the Muslim Ummah.” Other participating intellectuals included Islamuddin Qureshi, Engineer Muzaffar Iqbal, Hakeem Bashir Bhervi, Imtiaz Haider, Salma Qaiser, Naeem Akram Qureshi, Dr. Mahmood-ur-Rehman, and Rana Muhammad Akram.

The meeting concluded with a prayer for the souls of prominent journalist Tariq Warraich, Shura member Dr. Afzal Babar, Member of Parliament Irfan Siddiqui, and the martyrs of Gaza.