KARACHI, Dec 7: The Jamaat-i-Islami here on Tuesday criticized the government for its silence over brutal US bombing on Iraqi city Faluja where mosques were being targeted.

The JI leaders expressed these views at a rally, organized by the women wing of the JI (Karachi chapter), on Tuesday outside Idara Noor-i-Haq as part of a protest movement launched by the MMA throughout the country to build pressure on Gen Musharraf to shun his uniform by Dec 31.

The rally, which started around 3.30 pm, was addressed among other by JI Karachi chief Dr Mairaj-ul-Huda Siddiqui, MMA MNA and former city Mayor Abdul Sattar Afghani and Nasrullah Khan Shaji.

In their speeches, they criticized the government for pursuing policies which, they said, were not in favour of the Ummah and Pakistan, but were in US interests. The JI leaders said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would continue to raise voice in support of Muslims in Iraq, Palestine and Kashmir.

At the rally, women activists were holding banners and placards which criticized President Musharraf in uniform, and urged him to shed his uniform by Dec 31. They said that the peaceful movement of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal against holding the office of the Chief of Army Staff by President Gen Pervez Musharraf would turn into a massive movement after Dec 31, if the President fails to honour his commitment made to the nation that he would relinquish his office of the COAS.

Dr Mairaj demanded that either president honour his pledge by Dec 31, or quit the office of the president. He said today's rally had proved that the nation did not approve the army dictatorship. Referring to the Kashmir issue, Abdul Sattar Afghani said the government had compromised on UN resolutions.