LAHORE, March 17: The Anti-War Committee on Monday took out a procession from Masjid Wazir Khan to Bhati Chowk to protest against the impending US attack on Iraq.

Holding placards and banners, the participants were chanting slogans against President Bush. They criticized the US president for making efforts to occupy oil resources of Iraq and to make a new political map for the Middle East.

The AWC also announced that it would organize more anti-war rallies in the city from March 20.

Speaking on the occasion, PML-N general secretary Saad Rafiq said the attack would make the lives of Iraqi people more miserable, who had already been suffering due to sanctions.

He said war against Iraq without any evidence would be a violation of human rights and should be condemned at all fora. He said the US might succeed in getting UN and Security Council’s approval for attack, but would not stop seeking misadventure there.

Joint Action Committee of teachers, doctors and students chairman Nazim Hasnain said the whole world wanted a peaceful solution to the problem. He urged the UN to resolve the conflict between the two countries in a peaceful manner.

AWC leader Farrukh Sohail and Labour Party general secretary Farooq Tariq also spoke on the occasion. The protesters later dispersed peacefully.