May 29, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1428

FAISALABAD: May 28: The ‘journey to democracy’ caravan reached the city on Monday night at 11.40pm. The caravan was led by MMA president Qazi Husain Ahmad, opposition leader in National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Shah Anas Noorani and Prof Sajid Mir.

The participants took a round of the Clock Tower where they had planned to hold a public meeting. But the district administration and the police did not allow them and divert the rally towards Dhobi Ghat ground.

SHEIKHUPURA: The MMA’s road caravan entered the city here on Monday afternoon.

Speaking to a big gathering in Yadgar Park, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the army had weakened all other state institutions. He said the MMA had taken to roads to create unity and harmony among the people. He held Musharraf responsible for the Karachi carnage, saying that the general wanted to prolong his rule by creating anarchy in the country, but the MMA would foil such attempts. He condemned house arrest of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer.

Qazi Husain said all political parties were united on the ouster of Gen Musharraf, but Benazir Bhutto was neither sincere to the nation nor to her party. He advised Ms Bhutto to join the anti-Musharraf movement.

GUJRANWALA: The `Tahaffaz-i-Pakistan’ caravan departed for Faisalabad on Monday after an overnight stay in the city and was warmly welcomed at Eimnabad and Kamoki by the activists of religious parties.

Speaking to participants, Maulana Shah Anas Noorani said the people would start civil disobedience movement if Gen Pervaiz Musharraf tried to get himself elected as president from the present assemblies.

He said MMA’s movement would continue till the elimination of dictatorship. He criticised the Sindh and Punjab governments for imposing a ban on Imran Khan. He said the road caravan was a referendum against the government.

He said the alliance would continue struggle for independence of the judiciary and restoration of real democracy in the country.