KARACHI, July 21: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Thurusday condemned the crackdown on Ulema, seminaries, newspapers and journalists, and said that the government was violating constitution. At a press conference here at Idara Noor-i-Haq, MMA leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmed claimed that the steps taken by government were giving rise to a misconception that Pakistan was a country of terrorists, saboteurs and sectarian elements.

He alleged that after the visit of a US general to Pakistan and some “telephonic talks”, the government had launched a crackdown on Ulema, seminaries and media for the last 10 days.

He said that during this crackdown, the Jasarat offices were raided and Abu Latif Abu Shamil was arrested, adding the journalists, hawkers and distributors of various dailies and weeklies were also arrested by the agencies.

Criticizing the government, he said during Musharraf’s six-year rule, many eminent political and religious leaders were assassinated, but not a single assailant was arrested.

Prof Ghafoor claimed that the UK had held Pakistan and British citizens with Pakistani origin responsible for London terrorist attack without any solid proof.

He termed it a conspiracy of western intelligence agencies against Muslims of the UK.

He quoted the statement of London Mayor that the UK should review its 80-year policies of rule and divided for oil.

The MMA leader asked the government not to turn Pakistan into a colony of the west.

He further demanded immediate release of the booked journalists, hawkers and Ulema and sought an end to propaganda against seminaries and Ulema.

Prof Ghafoor also asked the government to respect the freedom of press.

He claimed that America had accepted India as a nuclear power during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s current visit, but on the other hand, it was putting pressure on Pakistan to cap its nuclear programme on the pretext that it is not in safe hands.

Prof Ghafoor announced that the MMA would observe countrywide protests against the crackdown on Friday July 22.

To a query, he said that efforts were under way for contesting local bodies polls jointly with opposition parties.

He alleged that a party before the polls had occupied UC and towns offices, adding JI leader Kamal Farooqi and Sunni Tehreek workers were arrested just to restrain them from filing nomination papers.

According to him, the Election Commission had never remianed free and autonomous.

JI Karachi Chief Dr Merajul Huda Siddique alleged that government had asked hawkers and booksellers not to sell any book against the UK, Isreal, India and the US.

He said that the so-called champions of women’s rights had attacked girl students of seminary and violated the sanctity of “Chadar and Chardiwari.”

MMA MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, MPA Nasrullah Shaji and MMA Vice President in Karachi Maulana Khan Mohammad Rabbani were also present.—PPI