KARACHI, May 3: The President of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, on Wednesday said the alliance was planning a countrywide protest campaign within the next two to three months against the government's anti-people and anti-Islam policies.

“The MMA will also introduce its new manifesto, based on solutions to problems facing the masses including price-hike, poverty and unemployment,” he told a crowded press conference at the Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi’s headquarters, Idara Noor-i-Haq.

Other MMA leaders including MPAs Nasrullah Shajji, Younus Barai, Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, Siddique Rathore, Mufti Yousuf Qusuri and others were also present.

Mr Ahmed, who is also JI Amir, said the MMA had also decided to observe protest day against the recent increase in petroleum prices, growing poverty and price-hike.

He also criticized the KESC’s administration for the frequent power breakdowns and increase in the electricity tariff.

He said the MMA’s summit meeting on May 1 in Lahore had decided to launch a countrywide protest campaign against the “unconstitutional government of President Musharraf”, adding that it would be taken to its logical end within the next two to three months.

“Our protest campaign is aimed at creating awareness among people regarding the anti-people and anti-Islam policies of the present government, protection of country's sovereignty and independence, and protecting the people from economic massacre,” he added.

He disclosed that the MMA’s summit council had also decided to introduce the alliance’s fresh manifesto, which would comprise solutions to problems faced by the masses and a ray of hope in this era of cruelty, economic depression and poor law and order.

The MMA leader criticized the government for increasing prices of POL products' prices on Labour Day, and said that even when petroleum prices had decreased internationally to the level of $56 per barrel, the government of Pakistan did not dare to provide any relief to its people.

“We will bring the people onto streets and observe a countrywide protest day against the government's poor economy policies. We will continue our protest until this anti-people government is toppled,” he said, adding that the MMA was striving for a pro-people government.

He also criticized the KESC’s performance for frequent power failures and increase in the electricity tariff and demanded immediate restoration of the previous electricity tariff.

Criticizing the government for failure to arrest culprits behind the April 11 Nishtar Park tragedy, he said in the presence of the Sindh governor and home minister, people had no faith in any true and impartial probe into the deadly act.

To a query, he said the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the MMA were agreed over the end of the Musharraf government and added that Punjab would be focused during the next MMA's anti-government campaign.—PPI