January 16, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 15, 1426

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QUETTA, Jan 15: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), the Jamaat-i-Islami and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement held protest meetings here on Sunday against the US air strike in Damadola area in Bajaur Agency and the military action in Kohlu and Dera Bugti.

The parties criticized the government for its failure to stop the US attack in Bajaur resulting in the loss of 18 lives and demanded immediate halt to the crackdown in Balochistan.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, MNA Maulana Noor Mohammad, Balochistan Local Government Minister Hafiz Hussain Shurudy and others spoke at a protest meeting held at the alliance’s secretariat.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed denounced the US attack on civilians in Damadola and said that President Musharraf’s pro-Washington stance had encouraged the US forces to kill innocent people. He said the MMA would take up the incident in the National Assembly session beginning on Jan 17.

He maintained that Saturday’s attack had proved that the United States had no respect for Pakistan’s borders.

He said the killing of innocent people showed that the country’s defence system was weak and foreign troops could cross its border without any resistance and return after completing their mission.

He accused the government of using extra-constitutional methods in Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Waziristan.

He said the government must stop the military operation and find political solutions to problems.

Jamaat-i-Islami activists staged a demonstration outside the press club, where the party’s provincial Amir Maulana Abdul Haq Hashimi and other leaders spoke.

Maulana Hashimi castigated the government for its unconditional support to the US for eliminating the anti-American forces fighting the foreign invaders in Afghanistan.

He said the government’s submissive policy had put the country’s security at stake.

He said the conflicts in Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Waziristan could only be settled by political means.

Activists of the MQM assembled in front of the press club holding placards inscribed with slogans against the military operation in Kohlu and Dera Bugti and the US air strike in Bajaur Agency.

The protesters demanded initiation of talks with Baloch political leaders and end to military actions in the province.