February 11, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 12, 1427

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PESHAWAR, Feb 10: People in cities and towns of the province continued holding protest demonstrations on Friday against publication of blasphemous caricatures in various European countries.

In the provincial capital, processions were taken out from different areas. The protesters marched on roads and chanted slogans against European countries and the US.

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani had given a call on Tuesday to observe a protest day on Friday. On this call, Anjuman Tajiran University Road organized a protest rally which was addressed by leaders of the association.

After the rally a mob, mainly comprising youngsters, started pelting stones on vehicles and shops which prompted police to use tear gas to disperse them.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and other religious parties held a protest meeting in Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

ABBOTTABAD: Complete strike was observed here on the call of traders and different religious and political parties. A protest rally was taken out from main Jamia Masjid that culminated into a public meeting at Jinnah Chowk. The meeting was addressed by leaders of political parties and traders’ organizations.

The speakers demanded complete ban on import of goods from these countries. They also called for severing diplomatic ties with these countries.

NOWSHERA: A big rally led by Senator Maulana Samiul Haq was taken out from the Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak. The procession turned into a public meeting near the Municipal Hall where political leaders and elected representatives addressed protesters. They included MNA Maulana Hamidul Haq and other JUI-S leaders.

KHAR: A rally taken out in Khar was addressed by MNA Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid. He said that the US and Europe were labelling Muslims as terrorists, but publication of blasphemous cartoons had exposed the real face of those countries.

HARIPUR: Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal organized a protest rally here after Friday prayers. Leaders of different religious and political parties and a large number of people participated in the rally.

The main procession was joined by small rallies from Khalabat Township, central jail bazaar and other areas. Those who attended the rally included NWFP Minister for Transport Akhtar Nawaz Khan, JUI leader Pir Alamzeb Shah, Shabir Ahmed Kakakhel, Sarfraz Farooqui and Maulana Matiur Rehman Qasmi.

LAKKI MARWAT: Protesters at a demonstration held by the Tanzim Ahl-i-Sunnat Waljumaat also demanded that the government should sever diplomatic ties with the countries in which the cartoons have been published.

TIMERGARA: Demonstrations were held in Chakdara, Talash, Khall, Munda and Samarbagh. Participants of the demonstrations carried placards inscribed with slogans against European newspapers.