KARACHI, July 22: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Karachi chapter, on Friday observed ‘protest day’ in the city against crackdown on religious figures, activists and students in the country, as well as the government’s drive against religious seminaries, arrest of journalists and hawkers and torture on the girl students of Islamabad’s Jamia Hafsa. Rallies were staged after Juma prayers as part of the countrywide protest on the MMA’s appeal.

A major rally was staged outside the Jamia Masjid, Binnori Town, where protesters, holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the government, condemned the fresh campaign.

Leaders of various religious parties addressed the protesters and accused Gen Pervez Musharraf of earning Pakistan a bad name in his effort to protect his own interests and appease the United States.

They warned him that the nation would not tolerate raids Islamic institutions and mosques or the actions aimed at causing harm to Islam.

Allama Hasan Turabi deplored that even taking the name of Islam these days had become a crime in this country. “In Karachi where up to 300 people, including many ulema, have so far been killed, not a single culprit has been arrested. On the other hand, the bomb blasts in London have shaken the corridors of power in Islamabad.”

Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui said that after bomb blasts in London, the Pakistan government launched a crackdown on its citizens and raided Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad where police, breaching sanctity of chadar and chardeevari, inflicted injuries to 26 girl students in their bid to confiscate religious literature.

He warned that if the government did not stop action against madressahs and seizure of Islamic literature, the MMA would launch a countrywide campaign against the rulers.

He pointed out that the government had banned all books and other material containing literature against the United States, Israel, Britain and other European countries besides those promoting the concept and spirit of Jihad.