SUKKUR, Feb 23: Thousands of people marched from Thehri to the Clock Tower here on Thursday to protest against publication of blasphemous cartoons. They also protested against the expelling of foreigners studying in madressahs, alleged atrocities against Sindhis, proposed construction of Kalabagh, Bhasha and Munda dams, ongoing construction of the greater Thal canal, NFC award on population basis and unemployment.

The protest was held under the aegis of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Sindh chapter. A large number of people and ulema from upper Sindh also participated in the procession.

The protesters first assembled at the Thehri madressah from where they started marching towards the Sukkur city. They staged a sit-in at the Sukkur bypass and after offering Zuhar prayer, resumed their march towards the city. According to reports, more than 50,000 people participated in the march which culminated at the clock tower.

A heavy contingent of Rangers and police, including Sukkur DIG Syed Zulfiqar Shah, DPO Iqbal Dara and police officers of other districts, supervised security on the occasion.

Talking to protesters, Sindh JUI-F secretary-general Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, Maulana Abdul Hameed Lund, Maulana Gul Inqilabi, Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahio, Maulana Ishaq Leghari, Maulana Shafi Mohammad, Maulana Mohammad Murad Halejvi, Dr. A. G. Ansari, Mir Ahmad Mirak and others called upon the government to sever diplomatic and trade ties with countries where blasphemous caricatures had been published.

They also demanded shelving of all dam projects, including the Kalabagh dam, and end to the army operation in Balochistan.

Terming the NFC award on the basis of population unjust, they demanded that the award should be based on revenue generation.

The also condemned the action against religious seminaries.

They criticized the government for failing to control price hike and provide employment to the youth, especially in Sindh.

The participants adopted 15 resolutions.

They called for cutting diplomatic and trade ties with Denmark and other European countries involved in publication of sacrilegious cartoons. They demanded resignation of President Gen Pervez Musharraf for not lodging a protest with the countries over the issue. They condemned bombardment on shrines of Hazrat Imam Hassan Askari and Imam Ali Naqi in Iraq. They termed the proposed construction of Kalabagh and other dams a death warrant for Sindh and said President Musharraf should end what they called his negative policies.

The gathering observed that differences between the provinces and the federation could only be ended by ensuring provincial autonomy.