Defence of Pakistan Council, abbreviated as DPC) is an umbrella coalition of more than 40 Pakistani Political and Religious parties that advocated conservative policies such as closing NATO supply routes to Afghanistan and rejects granting India most-favored nation status (previously agreed by the government of Pakistan but not implemented).
[3][4] It is chaired by Sami-ul-Haq and includes leaders of Jamatud Dawa (JuD) and the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), operating under the name of Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat (ASWJ).
[5] Fazlur Rehman Khalil, a founder of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and currently head of the Ansar-ul Umma, is another leading cleric in the council.
[4] According to the council's website, 36 organizations or people are part of the DPC (although only 33 are listed due to misnumbering):The umbrella organization was formed in November 2011 in response to the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers who were killed by American gunships and warplanes along the Afghan border.
Thousands of supporters rallied in Islamabad on 9 July 2012 in protest of the government's decision to reopen the lines.