ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Leaders of Islamic Tehrik-i-Pakistan (ITP), formerly known as Tehrik-i-Jafriya Pakistan, on Wednesday rejected the ban imposed on their party, pledging that they would continue their party activities in the country.

“We do not accept any ban on the ITP therefore we would not rename our party,” they said at a press conference held at a local hotel here on Wednesday.

The press conference was addressed by Allama Sheikh Muhammad Mohsin Ali Naqvi, Allama Syed Taqi Naqvi, Allama Syed Muhammad Jawad Hadi, Allama Ramzan Tauqeer, Allama Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi, Allama Muhammad Amin Mushahdi, Allama Mohiuddin Kazim, Syed Muhammad Taha and Syed Muhammad Hussain Bokhari.

The Shia leaders said they would launch a countrywide protest campaign against the arrest of their chief Allama Sajid Naqvi who was booked in the Maulana Azam Tariq assassination case.

They said all religious groups working under the umbrella of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) had offered their support and cooperation to the ITP on the issue of Allama Sajid Naqvi’s arrest.

The leaders of ITP accused the government of harbouring terrorists instead of apprehending them.

They termed the arrest of Allama Sajid Naqvi “a conspiracy” against the Shia community. “This conspiracy is being hatched to bar Shias from holding Azadari meetings and processions in open areas,” they feared.

The ITP leaders said they would give a call for countrywide protest campaign if Allama Sajid Naqvi was not acquitted in the case.