July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

GUJRANWALA, July 16: Over 500 women activists of MMA staged a rally on Monday and threw traffic out of gear on the GT road in protest against the Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid operation.

Led by Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith woman wing secretary general Abida Yazdani, the activists gathered outside Sheranwala Bagh from where they took out a procession.

Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against the government. They vowed to put up strong resistance if the government took any action against any religious institution in future.

Meanwhile, the Azmat-i-Islam Movement chief Maj-Gen Zaheerul Islam retired said that Pakistan army had been pitched against the people by one man.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said Ghazi Brothers demands for the elimination of obscenity and implementation of Sharia were genuine.

He said that those who were attacking and demolishing mosques and Madaris would not succeed at any cost.

He was of the view that Lal Masjid issue could have been resolved through talks.

SUICIDE: A dacoit committed suicide while his accomplice was arrested after an encounter on Sialkot road here on Monday.

According to CPO Khadim Hussain Bhatti, accused Shahbaz Ahmed and Umer Darraz looted various people on Sialkot Road and Jinnah Road areas. When a police team reached there, they traded fire with it.

Police arrested Umer Darraz while Shahbaz Ahmed climbed on a rooftop. As police tried to arrest him, he shot himself dead.