BAHAWALPUR, Sept 21: Component parties of the All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM) took out rallies throughout Punjab against the deportation of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, re-election of Gen Pervez Musharraf and assassination of Maulana Hassan.
In Bahawalpur, the APDM took out a protest rally from Jamia Masjid after Juma prayers. PML-N district president Mumtaz Ahmed Jajja led the rally.
In Okara, PML-N MPA Mian Yawar Zaman, district general-secretary Syed Zahid Hussain Gillani, JI district general-secretary Malik Maqsood Khokhar and former MNA Rao Qaiser led the sit-in outside the District Courts Complex.
The MMA also staged a protest demonstration after Juma prayers outside Gole Chowk Masjid. MMA district president Dr Liaquat Ali and other leaders spoke on the occasion.
A heavy police contingent was also present there to meet any eventuality.
In Sahiwal, four protest rallies were brought out by component parties of the APDM. The processions were led by PML-N Ulema/Mashaikh wing president Pir Imran Wali Shah, JI district amir Maulana Munawar Ali Khan, PML-N district president Malik Nadeem Kamran and Tehrik Insaaf Punjab vice-president Shafiq Ahmed Khan.
All the rallies converged at Bairawala Chowk where APDM leaders addressed the protesters. They also raised `go Musharaf go’ slogans.
In Layyah, the protest procession taken out from Mehmood Mosque near southern gate of Sadar Bazaar was terminated on Choubara Road. MMA’s parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Ashgar Ali Gujjar led the rally. PML-N district president Chaudhry Majeed Javaid, JI district amir Chaudhry Mubashir Naeem and former MNA Sahibzada Faizul Hassan were also among the participants.
In Sialkot, the rally started from the PML-N’s central office on Paris Road and ended at Allama Iqbal Chowk.
PML-N central leader and MNA Khwaja Muhammad Asif, PML-N president (international affairs) Dr Khalid Luqman, Senator Prof Sajid Mir and MMA MPA Arshad Mehmood Baggu led the anti-government rally.
In Sheikhupura, the protesters paraded different city roads and ended the march at Yadgar Chowk.
Protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-Musharraf slogans. MPAs Sajjad Haider Gujjar, Afzal Sultan Dogar and other leaders addressed the protesters.
In Toba Tek Singh, the protesters brought out the rally from the Grain Market which was ended at Sadar Bazaar Chowk.
The rally was led by PML-N district president Chaudhry Amjad Ali Javed and district secretary-general Rana Anwar.
Former MNA Hamza, former federal minister Chaudhry Asadur Rehman, MMA district amir Dr Saleem Zafar, JI district amir Dr Zahid Sattar, PML-N district secretary Rana Anwar, Jamiat Ahle Hadith district amir Mufti Aslam, MMA district secretary-general Mian Abdul Basit and others addressed the rally participants.
In Gujranwala, the rally was taken out from outside the Sheranwala Bagh after Juma prayers.
After reaching railway station, former federal minister Ghulam Dastagir Khan, Khurram Dastagir, MMA district president Bilal Qudrat Butt and other leaders addressed the participants.