KARACHI, Aug 27: Widespread protests were held across the metropolis on Friday against US-led attacks on Hazrat Ali's shrine in Najaf, as well as raids on religious seminaries and arrest of clerics elsewhere in Pakistan.
The protest rallies were organized by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Jafria Alliance Pakistan. Addressing one such rally, outside the Binnori Town mosque, MMA leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmad condemned the fresh round of US raids on Najaf, Falujah and other places in Iraq killing many people and causing damage to the shrine of Hazrat Ali.
He described the United States as international terrorist, enemy of mankind and a threat to global peace. "By supporting the US, our rulers are, in fact, betraying the whole Ummah," he remarked.
The protesters raised anti-US slogans when he deplored the government for carrying out raids on religious seminaries and continuing a crackdown on ulema across the country.
He severely criticized the attitude of Muslim rulers at a time when the US forces had been besieging and attacking Hazrat Ali's shrine and other holy places by employing helicopter gunships and other lethal weapons.
Allama Hassan Turabi, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, Shabbir Abu Talib, Hussain Ahmad Madni and Allama Shahryar were among others who addressed the rally, held amid strict security.
Allama Turabi said that Iraq was bleeding due to the US aggression. He warned that if attacks on Hazrat Ali's shrine were not stopped and avenged today, the aggressors, God forbid, would dare to attack the holy Ka'aba. He asked Muslims, especially youth, to keep themselves ready to counter all such odds and discharge their responsibility.
Allama Turabi deplored that while the government succeeded in capturing those allegedly involved in attacks on members of the ruling clique, it had failed in finding even a clue to those who assassinated Mufti Shamzai and devastated mosques and Imambargahs.
Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui said that the people of Pakistan and ulema had opposed the US aggression on Afghanistan in the past and they would not remain silent over US attacks on Hazrat Ali's shrine.
He said that the government which had totally given in to the Americans, was subjecting the arrested clerics to torture. He pointed out that there were 280 marks of torture on the body of Qari Noor Mohammad who was killed in captivity.
He also deplored Islamabad police for violating sanctity of chaadar aur chardevari by conducting a raid on the women hostel while searching for Abdul Rashid Ghazi.
Shabbir Abu Talib said that in the name of 'war on terrorism', Muslims were being oppressed all over the world. He regretted that in this situation, the rulers of our country were on the side of the oppressors.
Criticizing the government's double standards, he declared that sacrilege of religious places and anti-Muslim policies pursued by the US and its proteges would no longer be tolerated.
Allama Abbas Kumaili said his people were ready to defend Hazrat Ali's shrine and other religious places in Iraq. They would teach a lesson to those who were trying to usurp rights of the people of Kashmir, Palestine and other places, he added.
Addressing another rally, held after a procession which was taken out from Khoja Jamia Mosque in Kharadar and culminated at Tower, Allama Kumaili vowed to turn Iraq into Americans' graveyard.
He called upon Muslims to foil the conspiracy of 'greater Israel' through their unity. Participants of the rally raised slogans against the US and all anti-Muslim forces. They also burnt US flag.