Black day

Published March 2, 2006

LAHORE, March 1: MMA president and Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad says a shutterdown as well as wheeljam strike will be observed on March 3, the world protest day against offensive sketches published by some European papers.

Islamic movements in all Muslim and western countries had announced their support for the world protest day, he said this while talking to reporters at Mansoora on Wednesday in violation of his house arrest orders.

He said March 4 would be observed as black day to protest the visit of US president Bush. “People will hoist black flags to give him the message that his visit is undesirable.”

Answering a question, he said the Bajaur operation launched by the army today (Wednesday) was meant for “offering blood of Muslim youths to Bush.” “Who is responsible for this bloodshed?” he questioned.

Qazi Husain said the protest against the caricatures would continue until it was guaranteed that no one would be allowed to commit blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (SAW) in the name of freedom of expression or any other pretext.