March 21, 2003	Friday	Muharram 17, 1424

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ISLAMABAD Mar 20: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has issued a call for countrywide strike on Friday as an immediate reaction to what it described as an “uncalled-for” and “unjustifiable” US attack on Iraq.

The six-party alliance of religious parties said it will also hold protest rallies across the country on the day.

A decision to this effect was taken at a hurriedly-called meeting of MMA’s central leadership, held with its president, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, in the chair.

The MMA condemned the government’s move to prorogue the National Assembly before it could complete its debate and adopt a unanimous resolution against US war on Iraq, and described it as a blow to democracy and supremacy of parliament.

“We are considering submitting another requisition, but right now our attention is focused on Iraq crisis,” MMA’s Liaquat Baloch said.

The alliance’s vice-president, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, said on the sidelines of the meeting: “If the Muslim Ummah was unable to take practical steps against the US aggression, at least it should close ranks to wage a struggle to end hostilities against Iraq.”

He said: “We call upon the world leaders, particularly those who were against war and who were relatively big powers, should do something immediately for the hapless people of Iraq.”

These countries, he added, should also endeavour to save the United Nations from total disarray and complete failure in playing its role in world peace.

He said: “We also demand of the Muslim leaders to wake up and do something in cooperation with the opponents of war to condemn and resist the US aggression in the region.”

When asked whether the ulema would like to issue a formal decree for Islamic Jihad in support of Iraq, the JI chief said there was no need of such a fatwa.

He said it will be highly embarrassing if the Muslim states decided to sit idle and overlooked the killing of innocent Iraqis.”