KARACHI, July 12: Aijaz Ahmed Qureshi, who took over as the new Sindh chief secretary on Thursday, is likely to face the first test of his administrative capabilities on Friday when religious parties stage protest demonstrations against the Lal Masjid operation.

He is the 45th chief secretary after the separation of Sindh from the Bombay Presidency and the 30th CS after the dissolution of One Unit in 1970.

Mr Qureshi, who has vast experience as an officer of the district management group since 1973, has served in various capacities from the rank of deputy commissioner to home secretary and chief secretary, mostly in the NWFP.

Being the first Friday after the army operation against the Lal Masjid and its affiliated seminaries Jamia Faridia and Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Wafaqul Madaris have given a call for a protest day throughout the country to mourn the deaths of the victims of the operation.Although in Karachi -- being a city of relatively liberal people -- no untoward incidents are expected, the authorities are taking no chances keeping in view the experience of May 12. Hence all precautionary measures have been taken by activating the administrative machinery and law-enforcement personnel.

Peaceful protest rallies are scheduled to be held outside mosques and on M.A. Jinnah Road. Earlier, the former chief secretary Shakil Durrani handed over charge to his successor and wished him success. Mr Durrani has been posted as Secretary of the Pakistan Railways.