RAWALPINDI, Jan 1: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) launched the second phase of its protest campaign against President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Saturday.

Like other parts of the country, the religious parties' alliance observed a black day in Rawalpindi. Despite intermittent rains and chilling cold, protest rallies were held in which hundreds of MMA supporters participated.

Two separate protest rallies, one from GPO Chowk and the other from Marir Chowk, were taken out. Local MMA representatives, including Hanif Chaudhry, Maulana Abdul Jalil, Maulana Uzair, Maulana Taj Mohammad, Dr Kamal and others led the protesters. The demonstrators wore black arm bands and waved flags of the same colour.

They chanted slogans against the government, targeting Gen Musharraf for what they said his failure to fulfil his promise. Later, the two rallies merged together, which was addressed by the leaders.

The speakers criticized the president's policies. They alleged that Gen Musharraf had deceived 150 million people of Pakistan by not keeping to his word to shed his military uniform on December 31. The protesters shouted 'shame' 'shame' as the speakers criticised Gen Musharraf. We will now force him to quit both the posts, they vowed.