SUKKUR, Jan 14: Activists of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal took out a protest procession here on Friday against President Gen Pervez Musharraf's decision to retain the army post, price hike, unemployment and deletion of religion column from the passport.

The procession emerged from the Jamia Mosque and after marching through main thoroughfares reached at the Clock Tower where it converted into a public meeting. Speaking on the occasion, alliance leaders Ghulam Ghaus Ghazi, Maulana Abdul Haq Mahar, Mian Ghulam Rasool Qureshi and others criticized Gen Musharraf for keeping both offices of president and chief of army staff.

They observed that the situations in Wana and Sui showed that the president was not capable of finding a political solution to the issues. They claimed that due to policies of the president, not only the image of the army but the solidarity of the country was also at stake.

They demanded that Gen Musharraf should leave both the offices immediately. The MMA held similar protests in Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Thatta and other areas. Meanwhile, protest processions were taken out in Sukkur, Pir-Jo-Goth, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Naushahro Feroze, Hyderabad, Jacobabad and other parts of interior of Sindh against the death of Shia cleric Agha Ziauddin.

In Pir-Jo-Goth, a procession, led by Major Ali Abbas Kazmi, Maulana Wajid Ali Shah and others, was taken out from the Imambargah Zenabia which after passing through different streets reached at the Mohib Chowk.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders condemned the killing of Mr Ziauddin and other innocent people and demanded arrest of the culprits. They criticized the government for failing to improve the law and order situation. They alleged that agencies were behind the killing of Agha Ziauddin. They said they would continue their protest till the arrest of the culprits.