LAHORE, Oct 20: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani) held an anti-America protest demonstration at Shahdara here on Saturday on the call of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council.

The demonstrators were carrying placards and banners and raising slogans against America and the government.

A heavy contingent of police was present to guard against any untoward incident but the demonstrators dispersed peacefully after burning an effigy of the American president and listening to the brief speeches of their leaders. The speakers vowed to support Taliban who were ‘being subject to terrorism by the US and its allies’.

Prominent among the speakers were Mian Maqsood Ahmad, Malik Bashir Ahmad Nizami, Maulana Ashraf Ali Saeedi, Maulana Abdur Rehman Durrani, Maulana Mohibun Nabi, Sahibzada Amjad Khan and Mufti Ghulam Nabi Janbaz.

They lashed out at America for continuously bombing Afghanistan and now launching a ground offensive there. They also criticized the government for supporting America.

It was announced that besides the main rallies, small demonstrations will daily be held in front of every mosque in Lahore after Isha prayers. People would be apprised of the impact on Pakistan of the American attacks on Afghanistan. —Staff Reporter