ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) held a demonstration against the possible US attack on Iraq, on Friday.

The demonstration was held after Friday congregation outside Lal Masjid. People were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the US policies.

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the US was flexing its muscles to inflict disaster on innocent Muslims in Iraq. “It is the extension of Mr Bush’s call for ‘Crusade’ in his speech soon after the September 11 catastrophe,” he added.

President Pervez Musharraf’s move of joining the international coalition against terrorism also came under fire.

“Musharraf extended cooperation to the US to ‘strengthen Kashmir cause, protect our nuclear assets and strengthen the ailing economy,’ Maulana Haideri said adding that nothing as such was achieved.

“From Gilgit to Gawader, the FBI is conducting raids and picking up Pakistani doctors as well as those Mujahideen who fought against Indian forces in Kashmir and Russians in Afghanistan,” he said adding that it was a challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity.

He said the recent statement of US ambassador had damaged Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and rendered it in no position to take up the issue on any world forum.

He asked Musharraf to leave the helms of affairs after the people cast votes against his policies in Islamabad, Rawlpindi, Lahore, Karachi and two provinces.

MMA leader Mian Mohammed Aslam said the UN inspectors found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but even then the US was on its way to plunge the world into war.

He said foreign minister Khurshid Ahmed Kasuri returned from the US without getting any relaxation for Pakistani expatriates. He called for immediate meeting of OIC to help avert the impending war on Iraq.

Later, the protesters set George Bush’s effigy and US flag aflame before dispersing. Police were deployed at the spot to avert any untoward incident.

APP ADDS: On the occasion, the PTI, Punjab, senior vice- president, Gul Nawaz Abbasi, asked the people to express solidarity with the people of Iraq.

Javed Akhtar Intizar of the PTI said the US actions will put the world peace in danger.

Later, Dua was offered for the solidarity of Pakistan, unity among the Umet and peaceful solution of their problems.