LAHORE, Feb 7: The Tehrik-i-Istiqlal on Friday took out a rally against the impending US attack on Iraq.

The protesters started the rally from Dyal Singh Mansion and terminated at Masjid Shuhada on The Mall.

Shouting anti-US slogans, the demonstrators were to march up to the Chairing Cross but police did not allow them to proceed further. Speaking on the occasion, party president Rehmat Khan Vardag said the government would have to change its Afghan policy to stop the US attack on Iraq.

He criticized Gen Pervez Musharraf for offering Russia access to the Arabian sea, saying the government would have better taken the decision 20 years ago.

Demanding immediate end to humiliation of Muslims particularly Pakistanis in the name of registration in the US, he said foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri’s visit was a failure as it could not achieve the desired results.

He condemned America’s open interference into internal affairs of the country by harassing and arresting Pakistanis without any evidence.

He hailed the people of America and Europe for holding big anti-war rallies and condemning the US for its Iraq policy.