FAISALABAD, June 28: Leaders and activists of religious organizations and students of various seminaries staged a protest rally to express their anguish over the proposed Madressah Education Ordinance here on Friday.

Starting from Al-Markazul Islami, Chiniot Bazaar, the protesters marched through various city roads and reached the Clock Tower Intersection where a protest demonstration was held.

They were carrying banners, placards and posters inscribed with anti-government slogans. They also shouted slogans against the government’s foreign policy and demanded the withdrawal of the proposed ordinance.

Speaking to the gathering, leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami and other religious parties termed the proposed ordinance an attack on Islamic institutions.

They criticized the government policies especially its stand on the Kashmir issue and asked Gen Pervez Musharraf to take bold steps rather playing in the hands of anti-Islam forces.

Almost all religious parties and madaris observed a “black day” on Friday against the proposed Madressah Education Ordinance on the call of Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal and Tahafuz-i-Madaris Pakistan.