February 18, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 19, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

RAWALPINDI, Feb 17: Protests against the blasphemous cartoons continued in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday but fortunately there was no violence. Heavy security measures and better sense among the protest organizers apparently saved the day in Rawalpindi where the main protest was held. The organizers honoured their commitment to hold protest demonstrations but no protest rallies.

Even Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Amir of Jamaatud Dawa, considered to be an extremist group, had a word of caution for the protesters.

In an advertisement put in several newspapers, the Amir said love for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was an article of faith for every Muslim but causing destruction in the name of protecting his honour would be negation of his ‘shariat’.

Thousands of people attended the demonstration called by the Pakistan People’s Party in Rawalpindi. They responded with angry slogans to the speakers’ fiery speeches which were devoid of political messages, except for one.

A religious figure of the Golra Sharif shrine in his speech promised support to PPP leader Benazir Bhutto if she introduced Islamic system in the country.

Markets in the garrison city were closed partially as the trading community had announced a shutterdown protest for the day. Screens were put to shield car showrooms, offices of foreign companies and petrol and gas stations.

Police and Rangers also stood on guard at various points and the Elite force patrolled the city streets to enforce a ban on public rallies that the Punjab government had imposed following bloody rioting in Lahore earlier in the week.

In Islamabad, the protest organized by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was drowned in sectarian shouting when the PML-N cheer leader raised ‘Nara-i-Haidri’ slogan, among others.

Another blow was delivered to the party by police who arrested its leader, MNA Saad Rafiq.

PML-N spokesman Siddiquul Farooque said Mr Saad was having tea in restaurant when the Punjab police personnel in plain- clothes whisked him away to some unknown place.

Elsewhere in the city, students held two demonstrations against the provocative cartoons but remained calm.