KARACHI, March 31: Demanding an immediate halt to the military operation in Wana, South Waziristan, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has said that the elements trying to pit ordinary people against army would never succeed in their nefarious designs.

"The US and its allies have become a symbol of oppression and hatred throughout the world," MMA leaders told participants of a protest rally held outside the Karachi Press Club here on Wednesday. The rally was organized as part of the nationwide protest announced by the central leadership of the MMA.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters raised slogans against the United States and its allies. Some of the banners were inscribed with slogan: "Wana-like operation in Karachi not acceptable."

MPA Hameedullah condemned the military operation and claimed it was being carried out on the dictates of Washington. People of our tribal areas were proud of defending Pakistan, he said, adding that they knew how to defend the country.

They deserved due regard for their contribution to the defence of the country against Indian aggression in 1948. He attributed the achievement of Azad Kashmir to the struggle by a force which included tribal people.

Mr Hameedullah recalled that it was the defenders of our borders who had played a key role in forcing a super power, the USSR, retreat from Afghanistan. MPA Yunus Barai said that the Wana operation and victory of, what he termed 'terrorist elements', in Karachi by-elections, were part of the foreign agenda being imposed on the country.

He advised Gen Musharraf and his colleagues to respect the aspirations of masses and discharge their duties accordingly. He asked the rulers to offer an apology to the nation for launching the Wana operation.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Shamim Pasha deplored that anti-people forces had always remained imposed on the nation. They had been continuing their oppression against the masses sometime in the name of Wana operation and sometime by making inroads into Sindh through rigged elections.

In this regard, he referred to the recent local body election. He, however, claimed that despite enjoying the government's patronage, the so-called 'Haq Parast' candidates could poll less than one-third of total votes.