LAHORE, Jan 22: The MMA activists will march on the venue for the mixed marathon in a bid to disrupt the international event being organized in the city on Jan 29 (Sunday). Religious alliance deputy secretary-general Liaqat Baloch told a press conference here on Sunday that MMA activists from across the province would throng the Qadhafi Stadium, from where the mixed race would start, to protest the “unholy” activity.

The protesters would, however, remain peaceful, he said.

Central information secretary Pir Ijaz Hashmi, Azhar Iqbal Ahsan and Amirul Azeem were also present.

The activists would court arrest while violating section 144, imposed in the province to maintain law and order during the event, Baloch said.

The alliance would also observe Friday (Jan 27) as the protest day against the race, US attack on Bajaur and army operation in Balochistan, he said.

For mobilizing the masses to make the protest effective, rallies, seminars and public meetings would be organized throughout Punjab, he added.

In Lahore, mosques, colleges and universities would be made focal points for organizing the protest drive, while an all-party conference would also be held on Wednesday (Jan 25).

The MMA leader said that veiled women would also hold a protest demonstration in Lahore, besides calling on authorities to oppose the run.

He alleged that teaching staff and students of private educational institutions were being forced to enlist themselves for the race, appealing to parents to refrain their daughters from participating in, what he called, ‘unethical westernized event’.

He told a questioner that the alliance was not against women’s running provided a separate event was organized for them in a private place.

Opposing the Jan 29 marathon, he said at a time when millions of people were facing hardships in quake-hit areas and unrest was being witnessed in Balochistan, Sindh and the NWFP over various issues, organizing such festivals seemed ill-timed.

“What message the rulers want to give through these galas while Punjab is already target of criticism in the three provinces,” he argued.