March 10, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 9: Homeless people took out a rally under the aegis of World Minorities Alliance to express solidarity with deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges and asking government to provide them shelters.

Former federal minister for minorities J. Salik led the rally which started from Rawalpindi Press Club’s camp office and culminated at a private TV channel’s office. A heavy police contingent was deployed at D Chowk which stopped the protesters from proceeding towards the Judges Colony.

The protesters including children and women were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans asking the government to provide them shelters and reinstate the deposed judges.

Addressing the rally, Mr Salik said he was fighting the war from the last thirty years for the rights of the poor especially homeless people. He criticised all the previous governments for failing to provide shelters to the homeless people.

He said in the 1973 constitution, minorities had been given guarantee of direct vote for representation in parliament. However, he regretted that the Musharraf government after amendment to the law had snatched this right from them.

He said the government was receiving billion of rupees for the uplift of the poor but the latter were still living without facilities of clean drinking water, education, health and housing.—PPI