KARACHI, Oct 8: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), on Monday, organized a protest rally at Empress Market as an immediate reaction to the US-led attacks on Afghanistan, where speakers condemned the attacks and took pledge from the participants to fight hand-in-hand with the people of Afghanistan.
They criticized the government for siding with the US and said that demonstrations throughout the country had proved that the people of Pakistan were with the Islamic government of Afghanistan. The JUI also announced a demonstration for Tuesday after Zuhr prayers at Banaras Chowk.
The participants of the rally held banners and placards inscribed with anti-US slogans. During the speeches, people raised pro-Taliban and anti-Pervez Musharraf slogans. Besides party flags, they were also seen holding portraits of Osama bin Laden. An effigy of President Bush was also set ablaze.
Addressing the rally, the JUI (F) secretary general, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, said that it was shameful that the ruling general representing the only Islamic nuclear power state, instead of fighting the war of survival had surrendered hands down before the US, while those who did not possess nuclear power but were only imbibed with the power of their faith had accepted the challenge.
He said that religious and political forces in Pakistan were of the opinion that General Musharraf, an individual, could not be authorized to take such a decision to facilitate US attacks on Afghanistan as the entire nation, including the PML, had rejected the decision.
Maulana Hyderi said that attack on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon in the US were carried out during the daytime and were termed as terrorism, while the US attacks on Afghanistan during the night were also dastardly attacks of terrorism.
The JUI leader claimed that people throughout the country had come out on the streets to express anger against the US attacks and to express solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
“In Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar, people have taken to the streets and are burning tyres. The RCD Highway from Karachi to Quetta is closed and according to information, curfew has been imposed in Quetta,” he added.
Conveying a message to the army to disown the decision, he said our armed forces are bold and brave.
He also paid tributes to Gen Osmani and Gen Mehmoud for rejecting the decision of Gen Musharraf. Taking pledge from the participants to side with the Taliban, he asked them to march towards the borders of Afghanistan to wage Jehad hand-in-hand with the people of Afghanistan as Jehad had become obligatory on Muslims.
Earlier, in his initial statement, he said that Jews had a hand in the attacks on WTC and Pentagon and said that it needed to be probed why the Israeli prime minister had cancelled his visit to the US, why the 4,000 Jews working in the WTC were on leave on the day of the incident and why most of the Jews had sold their shares of the airlines whose aircraft were used in the attack. He said that Al-Gore, a diehard Jew, might have taken revenge for his defeat.
Mufti Muhammad Jamil Khan said that any act to facilitate the US in carrying out attacks against Afghanistan was a betrayal. “We want peace but for this we will not allow use of our land to attack Afghanistan.” He warned the rulers of the day when their cosy homes would come under attack.
Mufti Osman Yar Khan of Sawad-i-Azam said that if Osama bin Laden or Mulla Omar were harmed by the US, every Muslim would turn into Osama and Mulla Omar and vowed that the war would continue till destruction of the US.
Maulana Abdul Karim Abid said that the attacks on Afghanistan were attacks on Islam itself and “we accept this challenge by Bush”.
Sipah-i-Sahaba leader, Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Madani said that Jehad had become obligatory on all Muslims from Oct 8, and said that the fate of the US would not be very different from that of Britain and the USSR against whom the people of Pakistan have fought hand-in-hand with the people of Afghanistan, and now they would fight against the US.
Maulana Gul Muhammad, Qari Muhammad Osman and Qari Sher Afzal advised the government to see reason and not allow the US to use its land to attack Afghanistan.
KARACHI, Oct 8: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), on Monday, organized a protest rally at Empress Market as an immediate reaction to the US-led attacks on Afghanistan, where speakers condemned the attacks and took pledge from the participants to fight hand-in-hand with the people of Afghanistan.
