August 18, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 15, 1429

PESHAWAR, Aug 17: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) took out a protest rally here on Sunday against military operation in the Bajaur region and the ongoing spate of violence in the Kurram Agency.

Senator Rahat Hussain, former minister Hafiz Akhtar Ali and the party provincial secretary information, Abdul Jalil Jan, led the rally, which started from the party’s provincial headquarters and culminated at the Grand Trunk Road.

Protesters displaying banners and placards chanted slogans against the government and demanded an immediate halt to the military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. On the occasion, the speakers condemned the killing of innocent people in the ongoing operation.

They said that some elements were hatching conspiracies and pitting tribesmen against the army troops.

The speakers also expressed concern over the clashes in the troubled Kurram Agency and said that the local administration had failed to protect life and property of the people in the area.

They said that thousands of people had displaced from Kurram, as a result of clashes and charged that the government did not take serious steps to end hostilities.