March 4, 2006	Saturday	Safar 3, 1427

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GUJRANWALA, March 3: The Punjab remained peaceful amid complete shutter down and wheeljam strike in protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in Denmark and other European countries.

All markets, including vegetable and fruit markets and shopping plazas, remained closed in Gujranwala. Only grocery shops and medical stores were seen open in streets.

While transporters, including franchised bus owners, avoided bringing their vehicles on roads. Most of the roads, including GT Road, presented deserted look throughout the district. People have to hire taxi cabs and other modes of transport for their movement. The attendance in government, semi-government departments and educational institutions remained thin.

Lawyers also stayed away from court proceedings while judges had to adjourn cases.

Religious parties took out a rally which started from Sheranwala Bagh after Friday prayers and terminated at the old railway station after parading on GT Road. Protesters burnt old tyres and effigies at Jinnah Road and other areas.

FAISALABAD: A complete shutter down and wheeljam strike was observed here and its adjoining towns on the call of religious and political parties.

All the main shopping centres in Kutchery Bazaar, Aminpur Bazaar, Rail Bazaar, Bhawana Bazaar, Circular Road, Kotwali Road and Narwala Road remained shut.

The grain and green markets, electronic, grocery shops and even mohalla shops in most of city localities were seen shut. Outlets of multinational companies, specially fast food centres, also observed strike.

The local metro bus service, urban transport and buses and wagons for other cities also observed wheeljam strike. The goods carriers and taxi drivers also did not ply their vehicles.

The local police made tight security arrangements and commandos were deployed in busy areas, particularly outside offices, banks and establishments of foreign companies. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.

The strike was also observed in Samundri, Tandlianwala, Jaranwala, Chak Jhumra, Dijkot, Satiana and Aminpur Bangla.

BAHAWALPUR: The city and other towns of the district joined the world-wide protest of the Muslim ummah.

On the call of opposition parties, there was a complete shutter down in all bazaars, markets and shopping plazas. Even hotels and medical stores remained closed.

Transporters also observed a wheeljam strike. All bus and wagon stands and roads leading to other cities wore a deserted look. People wanting to travel to other towns and cities had to face problems. Even the three-wheelers stayed away from the road creating difficulties for the people.

The attendance in educational institutions, including colleges and university departments, also remained thin.

Reports of small attendance were also received from government offices due to the absence of public transport.

Meanwhile, high court bar association members, led by president Sardar Iqbal Khakwani, organized a protest rally. They also held a meeting and asked the government to sever its diplomatic ties with European countries.

Police and other law-enforcement agencies tightened the security arrangements. Police parties were deployed at all important chowks and crossings to avoid any untoward incident.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Besides complete shutter down and wheeljam strike, small processions were taken out from various mosques which gathered at Jamia Masjid, Grain Market, and Jamia Mosque, Akbari where ulema of different schools of thought addressed the gatherings.

Speakers, including JI district amir Dr Zahid Sattar, MMA leader Mufti Aslam, Sahibzada Faiz Rasool, Maulana Burq Toheedi and Hameeduddin Rizvi urged participants to boycott products of European countries.

They also condemned the government for sending to jails those who protested against cartoons in foreign press. Later, participants dispersed peacefully.

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: On the call of the Qaumi Majlis-i-Mushawarat, a complete shutter down and wheeljam strike was observed in Mandi, Phaka, Malikwal and other towns of the district. However, no untoward incident was reported as all places were heavily guarded by law-enforcement personnel. Lawyers also boycotted courts while schools remained closed across the district.

A big protest demonstration was held in front of Jamia Masjid Madni which was addressed by MMA Punjab secretary Allama Syed Mehfooz Mashadi, JI district amir Syed Ijaz Husain Khayyali, PML-N district president Dewan Mushtaq Ahmed, former MPA and PPP district president Tariq Tarar and others.

SAHIWAL: All markets, bazaars and business centres remained closed in Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Kassowal, Iqbalnagar, Noorshah, Kamir, Gamber, Qadirabad and other towns. No public transport was seen at bus or wagon stands.

Anjuman Tajiran and political parties took out a big rally from Jogi Chowk which ended at the same area after marching through Deepalpur Bazaar, Pakpattan Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar and Jinnah Street. Later, Jamaatud Da’awa Pakistan vice-president Ghulam Qadir Furqan, PPP leaders Zaki Chaudhry, Ali Nawaz Bhatti and MMA’s Ahmed Yar Siddique and others addressed the rally.

Speakers demanded that the government should call back its ambassadors from Denmark, France and Norway immediately.

OKARA: The complete shutter down and wheeljam strike remained peaceful in the entire district.

A protest procession was taken out in Okara which was addressed by leaders of various religious and political parties and representatives of trade organisations.

Prominent among the speakers were Maulana Moeenuddin Lakhvi, Maulana Syed Amir Husain Gilani, Sahibzada Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Soofi Abdul Latif Naqshbandi, MPA and PPP district president Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna, Syed Ghazanfar Ali Naqvi, Shaikh Saeed, Shaikh Shafique and Malik Qadeer Husain.

Carrying placards and banners, protesters also chanted slogans against the US and European countries.

No lawyer appeared in courts and all the cases were adjourned.

VEHARI: Almost all markets and shops remained closed throughout the district.

Due to absence of public transport, people had to face inconvenience. A majority of government employees also could not reach their offices owing to non-availability of public transport. Various Lahore-based newspapers also could not reach Vehari. While all government and private schools remained shut.

After Friday prayers, activists of the MMA and the ARD staged a protest demonstration in Pakistan Chowk. Various local leaders, including Rao Khalil, Tufail Warraich, Akram Rabbani and Abdul Khaliq Wattoo spoke on the occasion.

The police deployed in force guarded various city roads to avoid any untoward incident.

Earlier, various trade organisations and activists of opposition parties staged a sit-in in front of the TMA building for four hours. They also raised slogans against the European countries before dispersing peacefully.

MIANWALI: On the call of the MMA and traders, a complete but peaceful strike was observed in the district.

All shopping centres and bazaars were closed while the transporters also joined the wheeljam strike.

Various religious leaders assembled at Moti Masjid and took out a big protest rally which after passing through the main bazaar reached Railway Chowk. Carrying banners, protesters shouted slogans against the government for its weak stance on the cartoon issue.

Speaking on the occasion, JUI leader Sahibzada Abdul Jalil demanded that the government should immediately sever all relations with the countries involved in cartoons’ publication.

SHEIKHUPURA: In the limits of Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts, a complete shutter down was observed.

According to reports, all shopping centres, bazaars and business centres, private schools and colleges remained closed.

The traffic in both the districts almost remained off the roads. Several rallies and processions were also taken out. The demonstrators were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against caricatures.

In Sheikhupura, lawyers marched on main Sargodha Road and shouted slogans against the European countries.

SARGODHA: Complete shutter down strike was observed across the Sargodha district and surrounding areas, including Khushab district.

Although public and goods transport vehicles remained off the road, only few light vehicles were however seen. The work in all government and semi-government offices also remained suspended despite the presence of a good number of officials.

In addition, all commercial centres were also found closed. The MMA, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Majlis Khatm-i-Nabuwat and Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadith brought out two big rallies from Kutchery Bazaar after Friday prayers.

SADIQABAD: In line with the National Advisory Council’s decision, a complete strike was observed here.

With the exception of fruit, vegetables and meat markets, all business and commercial centres remained closed.

KASUR: All markets and business centres remained closed in the entire district, including Pattoki, Kot Radha Kishan and Chunnian.

Transporters also joined in the wheeljam strike.

Peaceful rallies were taken out in Kot Radha Kishan, Sarai Mughal and Khudian by the MMA and its component parties.

BAHAWALNAGAR: All bazaars, markets, shopping centres, including the grain market, fruit and meat markets, remained without business due to a complete shutter down in Bahawalnagar.

No public transport was seen on the road as well in the wake of wheeljam strike. Private schools and colleges also remained closed.

The DBA took out a rally which marched through main roads and ended their protest at Rafiq Shah Chowk where its president Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani addressed the participants.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: On the call of the Muslim ummah, all business activities remained suspended here.

The MMA took out a protest rally in which all component religious parties took part.