MINGORA, Jan 12: The Muttahida Ulema Council (MUC) has decided to launch a movement for the release of Maulana Sufi Mohammad, chief of the Tanzeem Nifaz Shariat-i-Mohammadi (TNSM) and those detained in Afghanistan.

A TNSM spokesman, Maulana Abur Rehman said here on Friday that a meeting of the MUC was held in Patan (Indus Kohistan) with Maulana Abdul Haleem in the chair and attended by Ulema from across the NWFP.

The meeting has asked all district organizations of the TNSM and MUC to arrange public meetings and protest demonstrations for the release of the detained workers and leaders. The ulema, he said, wanted all the people freed without any delay and condition.

The meeting expressed its concern over the increasing tension on the Pakistan-India border and asked the Muslims to be united and ready for any eventuality. They said India would face a crushing defeat if it attacked Pakistan.