PESHAWAR, March 26: Workers of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) took out protest procession all over the NWFP and the tribal areas on Friday against the military operation in the South Waziristan.

Rallies and demonstrations were held in Peshawar, Nowshera, Malakand region, southern parts of the province and the adjacent tribal areas. The MMA leaders and parliamentarians led the rallies, according to the reports.

In the provincial metropolis the two major components of the ruling MMA staged separate rallies against the operation. The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) workers took out a rally from Mohabat Khan Mosque, while the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam started protest march from Namakmandi Mosque. Both rallies ended at Qissakhwani Bazaar.

Speaking at the JI's rally senior provincial minister Sirajul Haq said that the ongoing operation in Wana and other parts of the tribal area could create law and order situation, adding that tribesmen were being punished for being loyal to the country.

He warned that ill-planned policies of the federal government could pose threat to the very existence of the country. He announced that the MMA would observe protest throughout the country on March 31.

The MMA leaders including Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Maualana Fazl Rehman would lead rallies in Rawalpindi and Peshawar, he added. Senator Prof Mohammad Ibrahim claimed that the controversy could lead the country towards instability. He vowed that the MMA would soon march on Islamabad.

PKMAP: The Pukhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party has urged the federal government not to target all Pukhtoons of its anti-terrorism campaign, adding it should focus on those providing shelter to the foreigners in Fata.