01 January 2005	Saturday	19 Ziqa'ad 1425

MINGORA, Dec 31: The opposition parties in Swat have planned to hold protest demonstrations across the district in response to their leadership's call for observing a black day on Saturday.

Maulana Fazal Subhan, MNA, the district amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, told reporters on Friday that President Gen Pervez Musharraf himself had compelled the opposition parties to launch a movement against him.

The opposition, he said, had provided him a respectable way of quitting the post of army chief but instead of treading that path, he announced retaining both the offices of the COAS and the president.

"The opposition has been left with no other option but to come on to the streets," he said. The JI leader asked the president to doff his uniform or the people will force him to do so.

He said processions would be taken out and black flags hoisted in different areas of the district to mark the protest day. A public meeting would be held at Nishat Chowk, Mingora, in which leaders of other opposition parties have also been invited, he added.