BAHAWALPUR, May 11: Jamaat-i-Islami has announced a country-wide protest against America for desecration of the Holy Quran and the Washington Post’s derogatory cartoon. The call was given by Jamaat central secretary-general Munawar Hassan while speaking at a press conference at JI office here on Wednesday.

The secretary-general said Muslims across the country had been appealed to observe protest day on Friday (May 13) against America by holding meetings and taking out protest rallies in their areas. He asked ulema to condemn the US in their Friday sermons.

Talking of the country’s affairs, Munawar Hassan accused Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of hoodwinking the nation by producing false and incorrect figures regarding economic progress.

He said Mr Aziz was not an economist and had only been administrator of various banks during the past years. He said poverty had increased from 29 to 41 per cent.

RECEPTION: District Nazim Tariq Cheema at a reception of Hasilpur bar association on Wednesday said that 24 uplift schemes worth Rs1.14 billion had been completed in the tehsil. He said the Hasilpur-Choonawala Road would be dualized. — Correspondent