KARACHI, Sept 1: The secretary general of Jamaat-i-Islami, Syed Munawar Hasan, who is also a senior leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, has said that complete, peaceful strike all over the country proved that the entire nation was against government policies and warned rulers to refrain from changing Hudood laws.

Addressing a protest demonstration outside Bait-ul-Mukaram mosque on Friday, he termed the killing of Jamhoori Watan Party chief a highly condemnable act and said that the entire nation was with their Baloch brethren at this tragic period of the country’s history.

The demonstration was held under the aegis of MMA in protest against Balochistan military operation and killing of Akbar Bugti, detention of A.Q. Khan and government’s plan to amend Hudood Ordinance.

Several other MMA leaders including JUI’s Aslam Ghauri, Allama Nazir Abbas Naqvi of Pakistan Islami Tehreek, MMA MPAs Nasarullah Shaji and Younus Barai addressed the demo.

A large number of people participated in the protest demonstration. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with demands to stop military operation in Balochistan forthwith, grant provincial autonomy to smaller provinces, release of Dr A.Q. Khan and halt making amendments to Hudood Ordinance.

Syed Munawar Hasan expressed delight over unity among opposition parties over all these issues and said that days were not far when dictator and his accomplices would be overthrown and taken to task.

“General Musharraf has put country into a situation resembling to that of 1971. He violated the Constitution of Pakistan, patronized looters and broke several promises made to people,” he said and added that Akbar Bugti was a patriot Pakistani, who supported Balochistan’s inclusion into Pakistan.

JUI leader Aslam Ghauri said that assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti was a conspiracy to separate Balochistan from Pakistan and the military dictator, on whose orders Akbar Bugti was killed, was the main culprit of this conspiracy.

Allama Nazir Abbass Naqvi felicitated people for observing complete shutterdown and wheel-jam strike and said that people would soon be able to get rid of this government.

MMA MPA Nasarullah Shaji said that the entire nation had expressed its no-trust against the US agents ruling over people in Pakistan by observing complete strike and added that the nation proved that it was against military operations, secularization of society and detention of Dr A.Q. Khan.

Protest demonstrations were also held on the call of MMA outside many other mosques in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Sohrab Goth, F`B. Area, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, New Karachi, North Karachi, Gulberg, Azizabad, Liaquatabad, PIB Colony, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, Orangi Town, Banaras, Baldia, Shershah, Garden, Saddar and Malir.—PPI