KARACHI, April 4: Leaders of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, addressing public rallies outside various mosques after Juma prayers, eulogized Iraq’s stiff resistance to the aggression by US-British forces and said that Saddam Hussain had written a new chapter in history by demonstrating great courage and determination against its hundred times stronger enemy.

Condemning the aggression in strong words, they pointed out that the United States and Britain had not only belittled and disrespected the United Nations but also blown into pieces the principles they themselves had been advocating for the creation of the world body.

They warned Muslim rulers around the world of popular revolution in their countries if they continued to ignore the aspirations of their countrymen and did not take unified action against the oppressive forces that were ravaging Iraq.

Participants of the rallies were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans condemning US and Britain and calling for an immediate halt to the war. A large number of banners carried captions expressing solidarity with Iraq and its people. At some places, demonstrators burnt US and UK flags and effigies of President Bush and Premier Blair.

Syed Munawwar Hasan, Secretary General of Jamaat-i-Islami and a central leader of the MMA, addressed a rally outside Jamia Masjid Abubakr in Gizri. He said that the superiority in science, technology and weaponry could not defeat the spirit of Jihad and passion for martyrdom.

Referring to the million marches in five major cities of Pakistan, he declared that the people of the country had given their verdict against United States and that the verdict must be respected by President Musharraf, Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali and his cabinet.

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, speaking at a rally at Banaras Chowk, said that the US and Britain were fighting a war which they had actually lost the very first day. He predicted that the boat carrying allied forces their supporters was bound to sink.

He also lashed out at the UN secretary general for covering up his failure and ineligibility, in preventing and later stopping the US aggression, by issuing statements against suicide attacks by fidayeen. Hashim Siddiqui severely criticized Muslim rulers’ role during US invasion first of Afghanistan and than on Iraq. he warned that they must realize the fact that there could only be a Muslim country as the next target tomorrow.

Mufti Usman Yar Khan said that the only way to counter the monstrous series of invasions was unity of Ummah.

Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, who addressed a rally outside Pathan Mosque in Moosa Lane, pointed out that US policies had turned the world community, especially the Islamic world, against Washington which had “set worst example of international terrorism and vandalism.”

Abdul Sattar Afghani, a former Mayor of Karachi, told a rally outside Masjid-i-Noor, Kalapul, that allied troops must be forced out of Iraq. He warned that US policies would prove extremely harmful to the United States itself as well as Americans throughout the world.

Another anti-war rally was held at 12-L Market in Gulshan-i-Hadeed. It was addressed by Saeed Kashif and Shoaib Farooqui.

Meanwhile, Maulana Asad Thanvi, Mufti Muhammad Usman Yar Khan, Qari Abdul Mannan Anwar, Maulana Wali Shah, Qari Saifur Rehman and Maulana Muhammad Omar Farooqui have condemned police action against the participants of a procession while it was on way to Karachi Press Club to join a protest rally on Thursday.

They said that police blocked the rally route, carried out lathi charge and detained many of the protesters. The rally was organized to condemn US invasion of Iraq and imposition of sanctions on Kahuta Laboratories.