07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

MULTAN, Feb 6: It is difficult to gauge the response to the MMA strike call as traders in most parts of the Punjab observe Friday as the weekly holiday.

In Gujranwala and Sahiwal, police arrested 17 MMA leaders and activists who tried to 'enforce' the shutterdown.

In Multan, all the main markets remained closed with exception to medical stores, eateries and small grocery shops that did their business as usual.

Dozens of MMA activists took out a protest procession from Hussain Agahi Bazar that ended at Ghanta Ghar Chowk. Processionists carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of nuclear scientists.

GUJRANWALA: 15 MMA activists, including JI City Naib Amir Abdul Qayyum and Shabab-i-Milli president Mushtaq Ibrahim, were arrested when they 'tried to make' local shopkeepers to pull down their shutters.

Most of the local traders who did open their shops however ignored the MMA call. MMA activists gathered outside Sheranwala Bagh from where they took out a procession which terminated at Buther Market after parading the GT Road, Cloth Market, Jinnah Bazar and Galla Khajur Mandi.

SAHIWAL: City police arrested the son of district MMA president and IJT Nazim for use of loudspeaker to make traders strike their work.

Reportedly, Rashid Mahmood, son of Maulana Munawwar Ali Khan, and IJT Nazim Yasir Gujjar, riding a rickshaw gave the shutterdown and wheel-jam call on Thursday. Police arrested them and impounded the three-wheeler.

BAHAWALPUR: The MMA took out a rally from Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq. It was led by Punjab JI Naib Amir and MMA Deputy Parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly, Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, Riaz Chughtai (JUI) and others.

SIALKOT: The religious alliance held an anti-government demonstration at Allama Iqbal Chowk. The general public and traders' response to the strike call was however poor. A majority of shops in Sialkot City, Cantonment, Daska, Bhopalwala, Sambrial, Uggoki, Pasrur, Badiana and Chawinda remained closed due to weekly holiday.

FAISALABAD: Major commercial centres and eight bazaars remained closed due to weekly holiday whereas shops in other areas did their business as usual

SARGODHA: A partial strike was observed here in the morning. The poor response was due to the confessional statement of Dr.AQ Khan and President's press conference.

In their Friday sermons, prayer leaders warned the government that people of Pakistan would not accept any compromise on Kashmir and nuclear issues. In Mianwali, shopping centres did open before the Jumma prayers.