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| March 29, 2003 | Saturday | Muharram 25, 1424 |
Bush revived American imperialism: Noorani
RAWALPINDI, March 28: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) president, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, has said US president George W. Bush has revived American imperialism by invading Iraq.
He was speaking at an anti-war rally, participated by a large number of people, including students of seminaries.
The rally was organized by a religious group, Ziaul Uloom Ulema Organization International. It was brought out from a religious seminary in Satellite Town after Friday prayers and was joined by thousands of people on the main Murree Road.
Maulana Noorani condemned the US and UK for what he called their anti-people and anti-Muslim tendencies. He also criticized President Pervez Musharraf for his indifference to the plight of the Muslims.
He said after Baghdad it would be the turn of other cities, including Mecca and Medina. The Muslims would lay down their lives to protect the holy sites, he added.
The protesters were wearing headbands inscribed with slogans like ‘Allah is Great’ and ‘Al-Jihad’.
They were also carrying banners and placards, asking the US to stop the bloodshed in Iraq and inviting Muslims to join Jihad against the Anglo-American aggression. ‘Stop killing Muslims for oil’, ‘Down with Bush’, ‘long live Saddam’ and ‘We salute Saddam and the martyrs of Iraq’, read some of the banners. Effigies of President Bush were also burnt on the occasion.
Murree Road remained closed for about an hour and traffic was diverted to Rawal Road.
The protesters gathered at Committee Chowk, where the religious leaders delivered speeches condemning America and the UK for their anti-Muslims policies.
A number of resolutions were passed on the occasion asking the rulers in Baghdad to open their borders for those who wanted to join the holy war in Iraq. Another resolution demanded of the UN and the international community to try President Bush and Prime Minister Blair for war crimes in the international court.
The leaders lauded Russia, China, France and Germany for opposing the US-UK bombardment on the Iraqis. They asked the Muslims to boycott US goods and demanded that all UN offices be shifted to a peace-loving country like France.
The Ulema said President Musharraf was not openly opposing and condemning US aggression. The session of the National Assembly was prorogued overnight to avoid condemnation of the US- led strikes on Iraq, they added.
MUBARIK VIRK ADDS: Students from different educational institutions of Rawalpindi took out a protest rally against the US-led war in Iraq on Friday.
The rally was organized by the Youth for International Socialism, which started from the main gate of a local college and culminated on Murree Road after passing through Siddiqui Chowk.
Speaking at a rally, the student leaders said only the world’s youth and students could help prevent the United States and its allies from inflicting pain and miseries on humanity.
They said the Americans and their allies were busy killing poor Iraqi labourers, peasants and youth in their lust to grab the wealth of oil in the region.
They condemned the coalition forces for committing atrocities on the helpless Iraqi people and demanded an immediate end to war. Youth from all over the world could help defeat the imperialism which was fast heading towards destroying humanity on the globe, the speakers said.
JAMAL SHAHID ADDS: Students and faculty members of Comsats Institute of Information Technology held a rally in Islamabad against war in Iraq.
More than 300 students and faculty members, wearing black ribbons on their arms, participated in the rally.
The rally started from the institute and passed through Pitras Bokhari Road.
Speaking on the occasion, the students said the US president and British prime minister had ignored the voice of the people of the world.
APP ADDS: Traders body of Melody Market in sector G-6 on Friday staged a demonstration against the US attack on Iraq and to express solidarity with the Iraqi people.
The participants of the rally were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the policies of the United States. They chanted slogans against US President Bush and British prime minister Tony Blair.
The traders association president, M. Haider, regretted that despite opposition from the entire world, the US attacked Iraq.
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