LAHORE, July 20: The MMA has given a call for countrywide protest for Friday (July 22) against raids on seminaries, newspapers and manhandling of girl students and arrests of male teachers, students and journalists. Various leaders of the alliance have reportedly approached government functionaries but they have got no response from them.

In a joint call on Wednesday, MMA president Qazi Hussain, secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rahman and other leaders appealed to the masses to hold rallies and stage demonstrations outside mosques after the Friday prayers to condemn a “global conspiracy” against Islam.

They also asked scholars to deliver Friday sermons on the issue.

The MMA would consult all schools of thought to evolve a joint strategy against raids on seminaries and the ban on Jihad.

They condemned the crackdown on the seminaries alleging that it had been launched at the behest of the US and the UK.

Hundreds of students and religious scholars have been arrested in raids on seminaries continuing across the country.

The MMA leaders said the action had been taken under directives from UK prime minister Tony Blair who, along with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, had at a press conference asked Gen Musharraf to take strict action against seminaries, accusing them of imparting extremism and sectarianism.

They alleged the army ruler had put the country at stake only to extend his “illegal” rule.

Gen Musharraf, they alleged, had been retreating on all national issues since 9/11 and now his retreat had gone beyond the limits of honour.

They lamented the manhandling of girl students of Jamia Hafsa, Islamabad, by policemen and termed it a blatant violation of Chadar and Chardiwari and a shameful act.

“The champion of women rights is now disgracing girls students by snatching their head-covers.”

Because of the “coward” policies of Gen Musharraf dozens of Kashmiris were being martyred daily by Indian forces but no official protest was lodged against it, they said. This encouraged Indian troops to cross into Pakistani side of the Line of Control and kidnap a citizen, they added.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Qazi Husain contacted federal interior minister Aftab Sherpao. However, no details were available.

MMA deputy secretary-general Liaquat Baloch met ruling PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain before the latter left for a four-day visit to Malaysia.

According to Mr Baloch, the Chaudhry’s response was cold as he was not ready to discuss it.