KARACHI, March 26: The joint opposition parties staged a peaceful rally in the city on Monday and vociferously demanded that General Pervez Musharraf resign “before the people of Pakistan throw him out of power”.
The call for the rally was given by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy but other opposition parties, including the the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Awami National Party and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, also joined hands with the ARD to express solidarity with the legal fraternity, the media and for the independence of the judiciary.
Workers and supporters of the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the Pakistan Democratic Party and the ANP gathered at the Regal Chowk in their respective groups. Later, they were joined by MMA supporters also.
The PPP, which is a major component of the ARD, did not want the MMA to attend the ARD rally. The MMA had announced that it would hold a protest demonstration near the Empress Market on Monday. They joined the ARD protest rally after the local leadership of the PML-N invited them.
The unexpected participation of the MMA in the ARD rally caused resentment among PPP leaders and workers. But, after awhile, they decided to continue the programme and avoid division.
The participants of the rally, including women and youths, carried their respective party flags, banners, posters and portraits of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. There were fewer flags of the MMA than those of Jamaat-i-Islami. However, the absence of workers of the Maulana Fazlur Rehman led Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and their party flags was conspicuous.
Strict security arrangements were made to cope with any eventuality. The road leading to the Sindh Governor’s House was closed for vehicular traffic.
The participants of the rally shouted slogans against General Pervez Musharraf, other generals and the government, and in favour of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. MMA supporters, however, raised anti-American slogans.
The leaders of the ARD, the MMA and other parties spoke at the rally when it reached in front of the Karachi Press Club.
All speakers were of the view that Pakistan was at a critical juncture and in order to save the federation, General Musharraf should quit.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and deputy secretary-general of PPP Raza Rabbani said that the people of Pakistan were struggling for the independence of the judiciary as it was the only way to get free and impartial election. He paid tribute to the legal fraternity for their struggle against the daylight attack by the regime on the judiciary.
He condemned the state violence and arrest of ARD workers in Punjab and demanded the immediate release of all workers and lawyers. Mr Rabbani assured the lawyers that the ARD and all other democratic forces in the country would continue supporting their struggle.
President of the ARD Sindh Zain Ansari criticised General Musharraf and claimed that the people were united to throw him out of power.
Convenor of the Sindh ARD Qaim Ali Shah said that General Musharraf had deliberately targeted the judiciary after parliament but the people would foil his every move. He said that both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif would soon return to the country and a neutral caretaker government would hold free, fair and impartial election.
Acting President of the Sindh PML-N Salim Zia demanded that the rulers resign forthwith as people of the country did not want them any longer.
PPP leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that by participating fully in the ARD rally, people of Karachi made it clear that they wanted immediate removal of General Musharraf and for this purpose they were ready to launch a decisive movement. He vowed to free Pakistan from the rule of the generals.
City chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Mairajul Huda Siddiqui said that General Musharraf had insulted Dr A.Q. Khan and now he attacked the independence of the judiciary by filing reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. He said that now General Musharraf was unacceptable for people of Pakistan and his removal was necessary in order to save Pakistan.
Other speakers of the rally said that General Musharraf took action against the CJP because he had cancelled the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills.
Later, the participants of the rally dispersed peacefully.
KARACHI, March 26: The joint opposition parties staged a peaceful rally in the city on Monday and vociferously demanded that General Pervez Musharraf resign “before the people of Pakistan throw him out of power”.
