LAHORE, Oct 28: A mammoth rally organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami on The Mall on Sunday asked President Gen Pervez Musharraf to resign and hand over the reign of the country to a national government.

Participants in the rally, held to protest against US attacks on Afghanistan, marched from the Nasser Bagh up to the Masjid Shuhada on The Mall. They were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the US president, the UK prime minister and President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The rally which was attended by about 25,000 people, was addressed by JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq, Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad, naib amir Liaquat Baloch and Punjab Amir Hafiz Muhammad Idrees.

After the rally, an effigy of US President George Bush was also burnt.

Speaking to the participants, Qazi Husain Ahmad urged them to be ready for a march on Islamabad. He said the final call in this regard would be discussed at a meeting of the Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (united action committee) of the religious parties scheduled to be held on Monday (Oct 29).

He, however, asked the people to be prepared for a 10-day stay in Islamabad and bring their ration along with them accordingly. He said the marchers would not leave Islamabad until the removal of the present government.

Referring to Pakistan government’s support to US attacks, he said supporting the enemy of one’s brother was shameful.

He said the world had been divided into two visible camps after the attack on Afghanistan. One was the western camp and the other Islamic camp and Pakistanis would support the latter camp, he said.

He opposed the sending of people to Afghanistan from Pakistan for Jihad, saying the Taliban should be consulted about their requirements and then steps should be taken accordingly.

Terming Musharraf coward, Qazi Husain said a coward could not be commander in-chief of the Pakistan army. He said that he was being told by the army to avoid giving statements against them as these might damage their discipline.

“But where the army discipline stands after daily reshuffling of its high-ranking officers?” he questioned.

He warned Musharraf that the army could not maintain their morale by siding with America in a war against their (Afghan) brothers. It would eliminate love for Jihad from amongst the army, rendering them unable to fight against the 10-time powerful enemy (India), he added.

He said America was the biggest terrorist in the world but, as it had become the most powerful country, no country was courageous enough to declare it.

He reminded the people that America had refused to sign the treaties banning preparation of biological and chemical weapons. It also possessed nuclear arsenals which were enough to destroy the world six times.

It also declined to sign the establishment of Ian international War Tribunal because it feared that its officers could be prosecuted for heinous war crimes they committed in Japan, Vietnam, Iraq and other countries, he said.

Demanding resignation of President Musharraf, Maulana Samiul Haq said the gulf between the army and the people had increased during his rule. He said Musharraf was relying on the US support while it had always abandoned its friends after utilizing them.

He said the Pakistan army was considered an Islamic army the world over but a few generals were defaming it. He said an Algeria-like situation was being created in the country.

Pakistan was becoming a party to the destruction of Muslims in the name of waging a so-called war on terrorism, he regretted.

He said the government decided to support the US in its attacks on Afghanistan on the plea of saving nuclear installations of the country. But, he said, the country did not need the nuclear bomb which could not protect it in such sensitive circumstances.

Mr Haq said the US had said that it would “take up” the Kashmir problem after Afghanistan, adding Iran and Central Asian States would be taught a lesson later.

He deplored that charity institutions like Al-Rashid Trust and Rabita Alm-i-Islami Trust were being victimized by America as these were working for the welfare of the Muslims. According to the west, every mosque, religious seminary and Muslim charity institution were centres of terrorists, he said.

Mr Liaquat Baloch said people of Pakistan would continue supporting Jihad, forcing Musharraf to resign.

Terming the Afghan delegates meeting in Peshawar on Oct 24 a conspiracy against the Afghan people, he said the people would not allow the “traitors” to use Pakistan’s soil for their nefarious designs. He said these “traitors” would meet a fate like commander Abdul Haq, who was executed in Afghanistan last Thursday.

He said the Lahore rally had proved that people were against the policies of the present government and loved Jihad.

Jamiat Ittehadul Ulema Pakistan chief Maulana Abdul Malik said as Musharraf was extending support to America in its attacks on innocent civilians in Afghanistan, it was the duty of each and every person to remove him from power.