Anti-US protests today

Published January 3, 2003

LAHORE, Jan 2: The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat Pakistan will observe Friday as the “Down with America day” to protest the feared US attack on Iraq.

This was announced by Jamaat Nazim-i-Ala Hasnat Ahmad Murtaza while speaking at the party’s executive committee meeting here on Thursday.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has already announced that it will hold processions across the country on Friday in protest against the United States.

According to Mr Hasnat, the Jamaat instead of taking to streets on the day will create awareness among the general public through Juma sermons and individual meetings about ill-effects on the Ummat of the US attack on Iraq.

It will also observe Jan 9 as the “Holy slippers day” and arrange a special prayer session at the Data Sahib shrine, he said, adding all other parties representing Sunni sect have been invited to attend it. The party will also hold a training convention for its activists in March.

Meanwhile, the Khaksar Tehrik will hold a protest demonstration outside the Masjid-i-Shuhada on The Mall after Juma prayers on Friday against the US aggression on Iraq and FBI raids in the country.

The demonstrators will later join the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s procession from Nasser Bagh on the Lower Mall up to the Governor’s House on The Mall.

Grand Democratic Alliance secretary-general Pir Fazle Haq on Thursday called on Tehrik leader Hameedud Din Al-Mashraqi and discussed the current political and economic situation in the country.

The Almi Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat will also hold a demonstration against the United States outside the Data Sahib shrine after Juma prayers.