LAHORE, Oct 9: Religious parties continued to hold anti-America protest rallies for the second day running here on Tuesday, condemning attacks on Afghanistan.
They also criticized the government for supporting the international decision to combat terrorism and burnt effigies of American President George W Bush, vowing to support Taliban and Osama bin Laden in what they said war against anti-Islam forces.
Strong contingent of anti-riot police remained on watch at all sensitive posts in the city. They also escorted the processions along with plainclothesmen to avert any untoward situation.
Like on Monday all rallies were held in a peaceful manner though those leading them severely criticized the government for what they said supporting anti-Islam forces in their offensive against Islam.
Traffic remained suspended during the rallies, creating problems for the people especially on Ferozepur Road where the traffic muddles continued for quite some, causing inconvenience to motorists.
The main rally was organized by the Majlis-i-Ahrar Pakistan on the call of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council on Ferozepur Road near Jamia Ashrafia. A number of students belonging to Sunni seminaries took out a procession from Lohari Gate to Charing Cross and burnt the effigy of Mr Bush there.
Carrying clubs and placards they marched on The Mall while raising anti-America slogans. Some of them forcibly obtained petrol from a filling station on The Mall to burn the effigy of the US president.
A group of JUI activists took out a rally from Nila Gumbad to The Mall. They raised slogans against America for attacking Afghanistan and also burnt an effigy of the US president.
Those who took part in the three main rallies carried placards and banners inscribed with anti-America slogans. They also raised slogans against America and in favour of Taliban and Osama bin Laden.
The rally near the Jamia Ashrafia was addressed by Pak-Afghan Jihad Council Secretary Liaquat Baloch, JUI-Q President Maulana Ajmal Qadri, Majlis-i-Ahrar Pakistan president Ataul Mohemin Bukhari, JI Lahore amir Mian Maqsood Ahmad, Maulana Abdul Maalik, SSP’s Shamsur Rehman Moavia, Maulana Saifuddin Saif, Maulana Amjad Khan and others.
Mr Baloch said Americans fully knew that the attacks on their country were masterminded by Jews. But they were using them as a pretext to attack the Islamic world especially Afghanistan which was a defence line of Pakistan.
He said America wanted to dismantle the Islamic government in Kabul and to replace it with an anti-Pakistan establishment. He accused the Pakistan government of becoming a representative of America at this critical juncture and endangering the territorial and ideological frontiers of the country.
Mr Baloch said it was required to protect Pakistan, the Taliban government and Osama bin Laden. The jihad had continued and the people of Pakistan would fully take part in it.
Maulana Attaul Mohemin said if somebody wanted to assess the support of Pakistanis for Islam, he should hold an impartial and free referendum in the country. The entire country was with the Taliban and it would not allow anybody to crush them.
Other leaders termed America the biggest terrorist on earth and condemned it for killing innocent people in raids on Afghanistan. They said every Muslim child would follow Osama bin Laden who had become a hero of the Islamic world.
They condemned the house arrest of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Samiul Haq and Maulana Azam Tariq and demanded their immediate release.
It was announced that another rally would be taken out in Lahore on Wednesday while a main procession by the component parties of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council on Thursday.
LAHORE, Oct 9: Religious parties continued to hold anti-America protest rallies for the second day running here on Tuesday, condemning attacks on Afghanistan.
