20 November 2004	Saturday	07 Shawwal 1425

LAHORE, Nov 19: The Jamaat-i-Islami said on Friday the MMA should be accorded permission at the most by Nov 25 for its Nov 28 public meeting planned for Karachi or the religious alliance would give a two-day strike call and hold protest rallies across the country.

The public meeting, if allowed, would mark the advent of a new round of its campaign against President Musharraf. The ruling PML has also decided to hold a public meeting in the port city the same day, and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim has been quoted by a section of the press that so far the government has taken no decision or which of the two applicants be permitted to go ahead.

Jamaat secretary-general Syed Munawwar Hasan said in a statement that if the MMA was not allowed by Nov 25 to hold its public meeting according to schedule, the religious alliance would go for a protest which would continue till the army's alleged interference in political matters comes to an end.

He made it clear that the MMA's movement was not aimed at paving the way for another general to step in. Instead, he said, it was targeted at getting back the people their lost rights. "Our struggle has always been peaceful and within the confines of the law. Our new round would also be within the ambit of law."

Referring to the developments on the Kashmir front, the Jamaat leader said the government had added to the agony of the Kashmiri people by giving "senseless options" for the solution of the dispute when India was sticking to its consistent stand.

He said options outlined by Gen Musharraf had been rejected by the Indian ministry of external affairs. He pointed out that the Kashmiris had rejected the economic package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Syed was critical of the ongoing operation in Waziristan. The area, he said, was being flattened like occupation forces were doing in Fallujah and Mosul. Suspicion that terrorists were holed up in the area could provide the US with a justification to invade it, he said, adding that the rulers should stop playing with fire.