PESHAWAR, Oct 9: Various religious parties continued protest on the second day in the provincial capital on Tuesday to denounce the US military strikes on Afghanistan and express solidarity with the Taliban.

Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT), a sister organisation of the Jamaat-i-Islami, staged separate protest rallies and meetings in the city.

All the rallies remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.

Heavy contingent of police were deployed outside mosques and other sensitive areas of the city. Paramilitary forces backed by armoured personnel carriers (APC) also continued patrolling to meet any eventuality.

The JUI(F) took out protest procession from Madani Mosque in Nimak Mandi, which later turned into a public meeting. Maulana Ataur Rehman, the brother of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is under house arrest, led the rally. The participants chanted slogans against the government for supporting the US strikes.

Addressing the rally, Maulana Rehman urged the government to withdraw its support for America and back the Taliban. He vowed that protests would be continued unless the US stopped military strikes on Afghanistan.

The SSP took out a protest procession from Chowk Yadgar, which concluded at Ashraf Road peacefully. The protesters shouted anti-US slogans and burnt the effigy of President Bush.

The IJT procession also started from Chowk Yadgar. After passing through various streets, the demonstrators assembled at Qisa Khwani Bazaar where a public meeting was held.

SAMEEUL HAQ: Pakistan Afghan Defence Council Chairman Maulana Sameeul Haq condemned the house arrest of various leaders and the detention of workers.