LAHORE, Oct 16: The Difa-i-Islam Mahaz comprising all major Sunni religious parties took out an anti-America procession from Data Darbar here on Tuesday.

Jamaat-i-Islami’s women wing also staged a demonstration near the Mansoora headquarters.

The procession by the DIM culminated peacefully at Faisal Square after emotionally-charged participants burnt effigies of the American president and listened to speeches of their leaders.

They burnt tyres on every crossing and raised slogans against America and the government, condemning it for what they said, supporting the war against Islam.

Some workers tried to damage the billboard of an American fast food restaurant at Bank Square but they were controlled by police and their leaders.

Strong police contingents remained posted at every crossing and marched along with the procession to protect against any violence.

DIF chairman Dr Sarfraz Naeemi lashed out at the government for what he said supporting the anti-Islam forces and selling the country to them. He said under a conspiracy the army and the people were being pitched against each other and urged the removal of the government.

He asked that if the government had not allowed America to establish its bases here, why people were being stopped from going near the Jacobabad airstrip.

Mufti-i-Azam Pakistan Mufti Abdul Qayyum Hazarvi said the government had degraded the country by supporting America.

JUP leader and former Punjab minister Sahibzada Fazle Karim said the attacks on America were masterminded by Jews but America was using them as a pretext to annihilate Afghanistan. He said in the long run America would be the loser and Afghanistan would emerge as victorious.

He said America could resolve the present crisis through an international committee comprising Syria, Iraq, Indonesia and Iran. He condemned the OIC for condemning attacks on America but not uttering a single word in favour of Afghanistan.

Mr Karim urged the people to forge unity at this critical hour and prepare for all internal and external threats.

Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri urged all Sunni ulema to issue an edict against the president and asked them to collect fund for jihad in Afghanistan and Kashmir. He accused other parties of collecting jihad fund “for running their own business and producing terrorists.” JUI’s Qari Zawwar Bahadur said America would fail as it could not fight against the brave Afghan people. He announced that JUP head Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani would lead another rally in Lahore on Oct 28.

The demonstration by JI’s women wing was attended by a number of women and children. They marched up to Multan Road Chungi while carrying placards and banners and raising anti-America slogans.

JI Deputy Secretary-General Farid Piracha said the attack on Afghanistan was an attack on Islam. America had challenged a proud nation which had already destroyed the former USSR.

He said the nation should be informed of the agenda of the visiting US secretary of state. The Indian attack on 11 Pakistani posts during his visit indicated the failure of the government’s foreign policy. The people would not accept any further compromise on the national interests, he said.