RAWALPINDI, March 6: Deputy Amir Jamaat-i-Islami Liaquat Baloch says the million march of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will compel the government to change its policy on Iraq.

He was briefing reporters on preparations for the march at Maudodi Building here on Thursday.

Secretary General Jamiat Ulemae Islam Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, MNA Hamidul Haq Haqani, Azhar Iqbal Ahsan, MPA Fayazul Hassan Chohan, Abbas Butt and Dr Mohammad Kamal were also present on the occasion.

Mr Baloch said the million march in Rawalpindi would prove that the people of Pakistan were totally opposed to the aggressive designs of the United States against Iraq. He said General Musharraf’s Afghan policy had created hatred among the people against him and added that if the incumbent government too followed the same line on Iraq issue, it would double the hatred against it.

Mr Baloch said the million march preparations were in the final stage and all the committees had completed the tasks assigned to them. He said the main objective of the US was to control the oil reserves in Iraq and the resources of the other countries in Middle East. “The United States wants to change the regime in Iraq to pave way for the accomplishment of its expansionist designs.”

Highlighting the main features of the march, he said there would be a sea of people in Rawalpindi. He said they had also invited all religious organisations, groups and social and commercial associations to join the march.

Mr Baloch warned the local administration and the provincial authorities against creating any hurdle in this regard. He said the authorities concerned had been informed well ahead of the programme. A meeting would be held on Friday to devise a strategy for the traffic system during the protest, he said. About the links between the religious parties and Al-Qaeda, he said it was a drama.

Other leaders also spoke on this occasion.