NEW YORK - A large number of Pakistani-American men, women and children staged a demonstration in front of the United Nations building calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, end to Israeli brutal military operations and occupation of Arab territories.The call for the rally was given by a number of Pakistani organisations, including Pakistan-US Freedom Forum. Carrying Pakistani and Palestinian flags, they raised pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel slogans.
Speakers at the rally expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and condemned Israeli invasion of Gaza in which a large number of civilians have been killed. They called on the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to bring about peace in the region by restoring the inalienable rights of the Palestinians, including a state of their own with Jerusalem as its capital.
Comrade Shahid, secretary-general of the Forum, said the people of Pakistan were against occupation whether it was in Palestine or Kashmir.  Later, the Pakistanis demonstrators marched towards the Times Square where the Palestinians were holding a rally against Israel. The Palestinians recognised the presence of the flags-carrying Pakistanis and invited Dr Mohammad Shafiq, president of the Forum, to speak. He expressed complete solidarity with the Palestinian cause.