09 December 2004	Thursday	26 Shawwal 1425

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KARACHI, Dec 8: Religious parties cannot be overawed by the ransacking of their offices, violence and victimization.

From the MMA platform the parties would continue their struggle against secularism, trampling of the constitution and the president's insistence to continue holding the office of the COAS.

This was stated by Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, city chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami who visited the Lines Area office of his party on Tuesday night. The office was set on fire allegedly by political rivals.

The ongoing movement, he said, was part of the joint struggle launched by religious parties for the enforcement of Nizam-i-Mustafa in the country. It would bear fruit soon, he declared.

Dr Siddiqui, who was accompanied by Mohammad Hussain (MNA)and Nasrullah Shaji, deputy parliamentary party leader of the MMA in the Sindh Assembly, went round the three-storey building. Local JI leader Khwaja Sharfuddin and councillor of the area Mehmood Khan briefed them about the incident and damage.

Dr Siddiqui was told that apart from the JI office, a library and offices of the Al-Kihdmat were also gutted. Copies of the holy Quran and other religious books were reduced to ashes.

Condemning the culprits, the JI leader expressed his astonishment over the attitude of the Rangers who did not move to save the building although their picket was located very close to it.