KARACHI, Oct 21: The Jamaat-i-Islami is determined to hold its public meeting and sit-in at Jacobabad on Tuesday to protest against the government policy of backing the US and providing logistic support including airports to facilitate the US army in attacks on Afghanistan.
Announcing this decision at a press conference on Sunday at the party office, JI secretary general Syed Munawwar Hasan urged the government to allow to hold this peaceful public meeting and sit-in at Jacobabad so that people could express their sentiments.
He criticised the government for banning entry of the party chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad in Sindh and arrests of 500 activists and leaders of the party including Asadullah Bhutto and demanded lifting of the ban and release of arrested leaders and workers.
Saying that protest rallies throughout the country, particularly under the banners of the JI, had remained peaceful, Mr Hassain asked what threat the government would have from a peaceful protest at Jacobabad.
CHILDREN’S RALLY: A children’s protest rally expressing solidarity with Afghans, particularly with Afghan children, condemned the US attacks on Afghanistan and flayed the decision of the Pakistan government to back the US policy.
The rally was held opposite Islamia College under the banner of the Jamaat-i-Islami on Sunday. It was attended by children of different schools and Madaris. They were holding banners and placards with slogans expressing solidarity with Afghan children and against the rulers of US and Pakistan.
PADC: The Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Council has expressed concern over obstacles created by the government in organising a”million-march” on Friday next, from Purani Numaish to Tower against US aggression over Afghanistan.
A meeting of the PADC, presided over by Qari Muhammad Osman, observed that religious parties and the nation had been holding meetings and staging rallies to record their protest against US aggression, and said that if the government would not withdraw its decision to use water cannons to spray back water to disperse demonstrators, the present movement against the US would change its direction and continue till the fall of the present government.
