MULTAN, Oct 8: A rally was held here on Monday to protest against the US-led attack on Afghanistan.
JUI(F) leader Hafiz Husain Ahmed led the rally participated in by some 1,000 activists and local leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami, Majlis Ahrar-i-Islam, JUP(N), Tanzeem-i-Islami and Sipah-i-Sahaba Paksitan.
The protesters were carrying flags of their respective organizations and portraits of Osama bin Laden.
They marched from Husain Aghai Chowk to Ghanta Ghar Chowk where their leaders delivered speeches.
Hafiz Husain Ahmed asked America to send its ground forces to Afghanistan instead of striking from the air if it wanted to test the bravery of Taliban.
Claiming that markets in Quetta and Peshawar remained closed throughout the day on Monday in protest against the US air strikes on Afghanistan, he urged the business community of Multan to follow the suit. “Otherwise the missiles of America will one day hit the cities of Paksitan.”
According to him, General Musharraf had emerged as the staunch supporter of the American cause.
Rao Zafar Iqbal, Maulana Tayyab Qasmi and Kafeel Bokhari also spoke.
Earlier, participants in the rally demanded immediate release of JUI(F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Majlis Ahrar-i-Islam leader Syed Ataul Momin Bokhari.
They raised slogans against America, Israel and the Musharraf government.
The markets along the route of the rally remained open.
FAISALABAD: Protest rallies condemning the US attack on Afghanistan were taken out in various Punjab cities on Monday.
Almost all the religious parties, local traders’ organizations and some political parties condemned the US action and termed it a “terrorism” against innocent and unarmed people.
Rallies and protest demonstrations were taken out from various parts of the city under the auspices of the Jamaat-i-Islami, the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-i-Taiba.
The participants were chanting slogans against America and in favour of the Taliban. They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-government slogans.
They marched on various city roads and gathered at the Clock Tower intersection where they were addressed by their leaders.
Speakers expressed their solidarity with the Afghan government and announced the launch of Jihad against America and its allies.
They claimed that the US and its allied forces would have to pay the price of attack on Afghanistan and that the time had come to teach a lesson to the anti-Islam forces.
Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully.
Meanwhile, the District Bar Association, Faisalabad, condemned the US attack and termed it a violation of international law and norms of justice.
A resolution was adopted at a DBA meeting asking America to go to the International Court of Justice.
GUJRANWALA: A number of religious parties and members of two students unions took out protest processions against the US attack on Afghanistan.
They condemned killing of innocent people in the US strikes on Afghan cities and demanded that the attacks should be stopped immediately.
They urged the ummat to get united against the US and its allies and launch Jihad against them. They expressed their full support to the Taliban.
The Anjuman Talaba Islam and the Islami Jamiat Talaba took out protest rallies and warned that if air raids on Afghanistan were not stopped, all the religious parties would launch Jihad against the US and its allies.
The protesters were carrying banners and placards and chanting slogans against US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
BAHAWALPUR: The JUI leader and Afghan Defence Council chief, Maulana Samiul Haq, has condemned US attack on Afghanistan and urged all sections of Pakistani nation to forge unity among their ranks to express solidarity with the Afghans.
At a press conference here on Monday, the Maulana hoped the Pakistani nation with its moral support would foil all nefarious designs of America and its allies. He said Afghanistan would prove a graveyard for Americans.
He claimed that the American coalition was, in fact, trying to open the doors of a civil war by supporting the North Alliance. He said the Afghan people would also reject Zahir Shah’s leadership.
Earlier, Maulana Sami, JI amir Dr Waseem Akhtar and other religious leaders addressed an anti-US rally at Fawara Chowk.
SAHIWAL: Scores of students from the local Government College and other educational institutions took out a protest procession against the US attack on Afghanistan. They also forced closures of schools. They marched through the city bazaars chanting slogans in favour of Osama bin Laden and Taliban and against the US and its allies. They also burnt an effigy of the American president. Later they dispersed peacefully.
Shops and business centres remained open as usual. Local administration had heightened security keeping in view probable reaction of religious parties.
SARGODHA: Religious parties on Monday expressed their anguish over the US attack on Afghanistan and announced the launch of protest rallies on Tuesday. Their leaders said they would extend all help to the Taliban and launch Jihad against America and its allies.
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