Families of missing persons

ISLAMABAD, March 23: Families of missing persons, sitting at Parade Avenue for the last over one month for the recovery of their loved ones, on Friday observed Pakistan Day by holding ‘Save Pakistan Rally’.

Participants of the rally marched from Parade Avenue to China Chowk and then to Parade Avenue.

They were holding banners, placards and pictures of the missing persons. They chanted slogans in favour of Pakistan and for the recovery of victims of enforced disappearance. Four persons wearing prisoners dress and tied with iron chains also participated in the march.

Later, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Hafiz Hussain Ahmad addressing the rally alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari government had completed four years because they had made an agreement with the Americans that they would not talk about the missing persons.

Mr Ahmed called upon the chief justice and chief of army staff to ensure recovery of the missing persons as soon as possible. Defense of Human Rights Chairperson Aamna Masood Janjua said if missing persons were really involved in illegal activities, they should be tried in the courts.—A Reporter

PPP claims to side with poor

CHAKWAL, March 23: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is the only political party whose leaders and workers sacrificed their lives for the country’s sake while it ensured that poor masses get their rights.

This was stated by PPP Punjab President MNA Imtiaz Safdar Warraich while addressing workers’ convention the other day.

Mr Warraich said the PPP would turn out as decisive winner in the upcoming general elections. Counting the reforms introduced by the party he said during its regime the poor labourers and farmers got their rights.

He said Gen Musharraf could not go ahead with gas pipeline project with Iran but his party did. “We brushed aside massive pressure from the US and the project will soon be executed,” he claimed. — A Correspondent

Woman police officer robbed

RAWALPINDI, March 23: A woman superintendent of police (legal) at the Police College Sihala was deprived of her purse containing Rs6,000 and a BlackBerry on Friday.

Rohi Muzamal Tajik was shopping at the Lal Kurti Bazaar when two motorbike riders snatched her purse. The Civil Lines police have started a probe into the incident.—Staff Reporter