RAWALPINDI, March 18: A large number of students from the twin cities took part in a rally held here on Tuesday to protest against the possible US-led attack on Iraq.

The rally, organized by the Islami Jamiat Talaba Pakistan (IJT), was also joined by the activists of some other students organizations, like People’s Students Federation and Muslim Students Federation. The rally turned out to be the biggest protest demonstration arranged by the students in the history of the city.

The students from different colleges gathered at Gordon College and marched upto Committee Chowk on Murree Road. One side of the road remained blocked for about an hour, and vehicular traffic was diverted towards Liaquat Road.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-war slogans. ‘Bush is international terrorist’, ‘Drop Bush not bombs’, ‘No war we want peace’, read some of the placards. Some banners also carried slogans against FBI raids.

The participants chanted slogans against the United States and President Musharraf. An effigy of President Bush was also burnt on the occasion.

At Committee Chowk, student leaders delivered speeches, condemning America for its expansionist designs. They also targeted Gen Musharraf for supporting the US against the wishes of Pakistani people. The protesters called for stopping FBI raids and for expelling its agents from the country.

The IJT chief Nazim, Naveed Anwar, in his speech, said the massive demonstrations throughout the world had proved that all the people, irrespective of their religious affiliations or language, were opposed to the US war designs.

He labelled the US as an international terrorist.

President Bush wants to bully the whole world, threatening world peace, he said. He asked the Muslim World to unite and take a bold and courageous stand on the issue. He called on the world rulers to raise their voices against the US aggression in the UN Security Council.

The IJT provincial Nazim, Nasrullah Khan Sabir, said the rally showed that the students community was also up against the US war mania. He rejected Gen Musharraf’s slogan of ‘first Pakistan’, and said it should be ‘first Islam’ and then other things. He said the students in Pakistan would be ready to offer any sacrifice for the Iraqi people.

Speaking to the students, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPA Fayazul Hassan Chohan said America was hell-bent on enslaving the whole world, especially Muslims. Today, the youth have announced that they will not accept the US domination. If the rulers tried to give Pakistan in American slavery, the youth would turn the tables on them and bring a revolution, he said.