March 4, 2006	Saturday	Safar 3, 1427

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LAHORE, March 3: A shutterdown strike was observed in the provincial metropolis under tight security arrangements on Friday to condemn the publication of blasphemous caricatures of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in some European countries.

The call for the nationwide strike was given by the Joint Opposition and the National Consultation Committee.

Not only markets and shopping centres remained closed due to strike, but the public transport also remained suspended. Only a very limited number of private motorvehicles and rickshaws were seen on the roads.

The Badami Bagh and Bund Road bus stands wore a deserted look owing to the suspension of inter-city transport. Rickshaws and minibuses started operating in the evening but charged excessive fares.

The banks, government offices, petrol pumps and a number of educational institutions remained open but the attendance was very thin. Most of the private educational institutions, however, remained closed.

Most of the restaurants, medical stores and fruit and vegetable shops also remained closed during the strike. The people had to experience difficulty in purchase of foodstuffs and medicines. A limited number of fruit and vegetable sellers who kept their shops open charged the customers at will.

The strike was voluntary and peaceful and no attempt was made to suspend the movement of traffic by burning tyres on roads or attacking the motorists or setting fire to the vehicles like the previous strike on Feb 14. No attempt was made to stage a demonstration or take out a procession.

The government had made extensive security arrangements for ensuring peace and protection of private and public property. More than 15,000 Rangers and policemen were deployed at all the government offices, major public and private buildings, markets and roads.

The strike was observed on the call of both the major trader organisations — the Anjuman-i-Tajran Pakistan, led by Haji Maqsood Ahmad Butt, and the Qaumi Tajir Ittehad, led by Khwaja Azhar Gulshan. The City District Government Lahore made no attempt to force the traders to keep their shops open.

The leaders of both the organisations made it clear that the traders had decided to observe the strike on a purely religious issue. It had nothing to do with politics as was being claimed by the leaders of certain political parties.

A demonstration was held outside the JI headquarters at Mansoora in which scorers of its activists participated and raised slogans against the publication of sacrilegious cartoons as well as the military rule in Pakistan.

The protesters were holding banners and placards with strong anti-blasphemy and anti-US slogans. The CDGL had increased police deployment at Mansoora since last night and traffic was also closed on Multan Road. Entry of people on Mansoora premises was banned.

However, some people managed to come out on Multan Road raising slogans and holding banners after the Friday prayers. The demonstrators were addressed by MMA deputy secretary-general Hafiz Husain Ahmad, Dr Farid Piracha, Hafiz Idrees, Hafiz Salman Butt, Maulana Abdul Maalik, Maulana Amjad Khan, Ain Ghain Karrarvi, Maulana Mohibun Nabi, Azhar Iqbal, Zikrullah Mujahid and Amanullah Khan.

Addressing the protesters, Hafiz Husain Ahmad said President Bush reminded Pakistani rulers of their low status by signing a nuclear deal with India despite the Indian rulers’ refusal to sign the NPT, rejecting the US pressure. He said President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had expressed sorrow over the death of one US diplomat but expressed no regrets over deaths of dozens of innocent citizens in the military operation in the tribal areas carried out under the US orders.

He demanded that the Supreme Court should take suo moto action against the cartoons under the blasphemy law.

In his speech, JI naib ameer Hafiz Idrees said the entire Muslim world had proved that they had nothing dearer than the love for their Holy Prophet (peace be upon him. He said they also announced deep hatred against those committing blasphemy and conspiring to divide the Ummah.

The JI leader warned that the chargesheet against the dictators was becoming longer and longer in tribal areas and the time was near when they would be held accountable for their crimes.

He said the Karachi blast was the work of the US agencies which are known for killing their own officials to carry out missions against enemies. He said the dictatorial rule has become the biggest internal challenge for Muslims, particularly Pakistan. The protesters dispersed peacefully after the public meeting.

Meanwhile, City District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood thanked the citizens and the business community for keeping the strike peaceful.