KARACHI, April 6: Activists and supporters of various political, social and religious parties on Sunday staged big rallies outside Karachi Press Club to denounce the US-led invasion of Iraq and urged the international community to take steps for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq. They also demanded of the UN and aid agencies to ensure provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected people.
Addressing one of the rallies, leaders of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) called on the United Nations to impose economic sanctions on United States and Britain and terminate their UN membership.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the US, UK and the aggression against Iraq, they also demanded war crime trial of President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in the International Court of Justice.
Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, speaking on the occasion, appealed to the people of Pakistan to boycott all the product of US, UK and Jewish origin.
The protesters expressed their anguish over the allied forces’ attack on Iraq by declaring the United States the ‘biggest international terrorist’.
Dr Siddiqui paid glowing tributes to Iraqi armed forces and civilians for their steadfast resistance and refusal to surrender to the tyranny of Bush and Blair. He declared that Pakistani people were with the Iraqis and praying for their victory.
“The entire Muslim world now hates US and this has been observed in clear words by the US Foreign Secretary,” he told the protesters.
By going ahead with its plan to usurp Iraq’s territory and wealth, the United States had itself exposed his hegemonic and nefarious designs, he said and added that the whole world was concerned over the US-UK highhandedness. Recalling dismemberment of the Soviet Union, he predicted that the US and its allies would meet the same fate very soon.
MRC: Another rally was organized by the Muslim Rabita Council which urged the government to take practical measures to provide relief goods and other assistance to the Iraqi people instead of just issuing statements.
Holding banners and placards with slogans calling for an immediate halt to the war, the protesters urged the US-UK forces to stop bloodshed of Iraqi civilians. They condemned the illegitimate invasion and destruction of Iraq by the aggressors.
Speaking to the protesters, the MRC leader, Nusrat Mirza, urged people around the world to join hands in foiling the nefarious designs of the US and allied forces.
Sindh National Front (SNF) also staged a protest demonstration at the venue and condemned, what it called, ‘US terrorism against Iraqi people’.
Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, Secretary General of SNF, pledged Pakistani people’s full support to their Iraqi counterparts and said that his party planned to organize protest rallies throughout Sindh.
Yet another rally was organized by Pakistan People’s Party to express solidarity with Iraqi people in their war against the US-led forces.
The protesters chanted slogans against the US and President Bush and demanded an immediate halt to the war. — PPI
KARACHI, April 6: Activists and supporters of various political, social and religious parties on Sunday staged big rallies outside Karachi Press Club to denounce the US-led invasion of Iraq and urged the international community to take steps for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq. They also demanded of the UN and aid agencies to ensure provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected people.
