New Delhi: The Israel-Hamas war has roused the passions of a Pakistani inspector from Karachi. He sought permission from his superior officers to be relieved from his post so that he could join Hamas in its “Jihad” against Israel. Unfortunately for the police officer, identified as Inspector Fayaz Ahmed Janwari, he was removed from his post by the top brass of the Sindh Police who found that his request violated service rules.
But Janwari has become a local hero of sorts on social media with many urging him on and wishing him luck in his fight. The mood across Pakistan is anti-Israel. President Arif Alvi appealed to the international community to ease tensions between Israel and Palestine. And many national dailies have been carrying opinion pieces and in-depth reports on the rights of Palestinians to resist Israeli occupation.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of Pakistanis sporting arm and headbands with the words ‘Labbaik ya Gaza’ (Gaza we are here) marched in support of residents trapped in Gaza. Marches denouncing Israel took place across Pakistan’s biggest cities including Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.
Against the backdrop of simmering tension, Janwari, Inspector Law/PDSP submitted a letter to the Sindh Inspector General of Police Riffat Mukhtar Raja Friday seeking permission to travel to Palestine to fight against Israel. At the time, he was posted with Investigation-II City South Zone in Karachi.
He also pledged to donate a portion of his salary in his letter towards the Palestinian cause.
“It is requested in your kind honour that I do solemnly render 10% of my salary to the Al-Khidmat Foundation, particularly for Palestine relief operations,” Janwari stated in his letter, a copy of which has been published by the Dastaan TV Official on YouTube.
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‘Jihad by Hamas’
Many Pakistanis have come in support of Janwari’s stand. One user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) said he was proud of the police officer.
“I am proud of this Muslim brother of mine, may Allah make his good wishes possible and give him the ability to fight Jihad in the front line,” he said. Another user posting in Urdu “saluted his passion”.
On 7 October, Hamas launched an aerial and ground strike against Israel killing over 1,300 Israelis and injuring at least 3,200 as per the latest update from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 2,383 Palestinians and injured 10,814 as per media reports.
In the letter as published by Dastaan TV, Janwari quotes at least four verses from the Quran as his reasoning for joining the war against Israel being conducted by Hamas.
“…further requested to grant permission to participate and contribute physically in ongoing Jihad declared by Hamas against Israel till independence of Palestine and elimination of Israel,” Janwari stated in his letter.
As per media reports, the District South DIG of Police Syed Asad Raza confirmed that Janwari was removed from his post due to the letter as it violated service rules.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)