KARACHI, Dec 1: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal observed ‘protest day’ on Friday by staging rallies outside various mosques across the city after Juma prayers against the use of force in foiling its Lahore-Gujarat march.

Participants of the rallies also condemned introduction of the women protection law and the government’s alleged move to delay Azan and Namaz-i-Asr in Shah Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, to facilitate engagements of the visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The call for countrywide protest was given by MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

The main rally in Karachi was held at Dawood Chowrangi, Landhi, which was addressed by JI President, NWFP chapter, Sirajul Haq.

He accused General Pervez Musharraf of taking such steps at the behest of the US administration which had expose the country’s security, solidarity and sovereignty, as well as the ideology, to potential threats.

He said that the government’s act of putting off even the Azan and Namaz was a proof that it had no respect for Islam. He said that the bombing on a Bajaur mosque and madressah was a black chapter in the history of Pakistan.