MULTAN, Oct 7: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl group) deputy secretary-general has urged President Musharraf to take religious and political parties into confidence over the global crisis and Pakistan’s role to resolve it.

Hafiz Husain Ahmad was addressing an anti-US rally here on Sunday. Maulana Fazlur Rehman was scheduled to lead the rally but he could not reach the venue due to a ban on his entry in the Punjab.

The JUI-F rally started from Chowk Bazaar’s Masjid Wali Muhammad and ended near Ghanta Ghar Chowk. Participants in the rally chanted anti-US slogans and burnt American flags and an effigy of President Bush.

Hafiz Husain Ahmad said the government should pay heed to sentiments of people against US attack on Afghanistan. He warned if Taliban government was to be dethroned, the Musharraf regime would also have to abdicate.

He said the leadership of the PPP and the PML should have to decide whether they would be in the ranks of people against American designs or they would support anti-Islam forces.

The amir of his own faction of JUI, Maulana Samiul Haq, was also in the town on Sunday.

He told newsmen any so-called broad-based government in Afghanistan would bring a civil war in the neighbouring country and Gen Musharraf himself had full realization of this fact. He said by rejecting American policy, “our friendship with Afghanistan will remain intact”.