KARACHI, March 28: A protest day was observed in the city on Friday at the call of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and anti-war demonstrations and rallies were held at several places after Juma prayers.

Speaking at the demonstrations, MMA leaders demanded of the United Nations to impose economic sanctions on the United States and Britain, that the US and the UK be expelled from the United Nations and US President Bush George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair be tried in the International Court of Justice for war crimes.

Speaking at a large protest demonstration at Banaras Chowk, MMA leaders demanded withdrawal of the US and British forces from Iraq and expressed solidarity with the Iraqi people.

They appealed to the people to boycott American goods, especially those manufactured by Zionists.

Hundreds of people had gathered at Banaras Chowk on the appeal of the MMA to stage a protest demonstration after Friday prayers. Protesters shouted slogans against the US and Israel.

Protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. The chanted slogans calling the US the biggest international terrorist.

The chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Karachi, Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, paid tribute to the brave Iraqi people and condemned the invaders.

“The US is the biggest enemy of freedom and peace. Americans are hated the world over for their hegemonistic designs,” he said.

“A humiliating defeat has become the fate of the US and its allies as they have been engaged in a lengthy and bloody war by the Iraqi freedom-fighters,” he declared.

A large number of people staged a protest demonstration in Shirin Jinnah Colony and demanded of the government to extend help to Iraq instead of issuing statements.

Protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans demanding immediate halt to the war and condemning the invaders of Iraq.

MMA MNA Abdul Sattar Afghani said the people the world over would resist the US and its allies’ hegemonistic designs.

Protest demonstrations were held at more than 300 places in the city, including Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Federal B Area, Saddar, New Karachi, Guru Mandir, Landhi-Korangi, Malir, Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Gulshan-i- Iqbal. — PPI