19 July 2004	Monday	01 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

PESHAWAR, July 18: The Pakistan Muslim League will launch a protest campaign against the NWFP government and observe a strike on July 21.

PML lawyers' wing president Intikhab Khan and provincial leader Muazam Butt said at a press conference at the press club that the party's provincial leadership had convened an anti-Hasba Bill conference on July 26, which would be attended by politicians, scholars and representatives of different segments of society.

Mr Butt said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government was spending its resources on protocol for the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and a media campaign in support of the Hasba Bill while poverty and unemployment were increasing in the province.

He said the MMA government was diverting people's attention from their real problems and highlighting issues like the Hasba Bill, which would push the province into lawlessness.

He said the bill was in conflict with the existing judicial system. He alleged that the alliance wanted to adjust its activists on different posts through the bill.

He alleged that religious parties were resisting the repatriation of Afghan refugees and using Afghans for their vested interests. He accused the MMA leadership of misusing the Bank of Khyber. He said the MMA had no interest in resolving the financial problems of people. -PPI