Apart from the PTI activists and workers, the leaders and supporters of various political parties, including PML-N, MMA, Jamat-i-Ahle-Sunnat and students of religious seminaries also participated in the peace rally. The protesters, led by the PTI chief Imran Khan, gathered at Fawara Chowk and marched up to Committee Chowk.
The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans dubbing America as aggressor, world bully and condemning its anti-Muslim tendencies. ‘No war for oil’, read a placard. ‘Push Bush into hell’, said another. ‘We want peace, don’t suck Muslims’ blood’ and ‘Bush, stop destroying world peace’ were the slogans written on the banners.
The protesters also chanted full-throated slogans against President Bush and the policies of his government. Some of the protesters were also carrying placards having cartoons of Bush, Blair and Sharon.
At Committee Chowk, PTI chief Imran Khan, MMA leader Hanif Abbasi and PML-N secretary information, Siddiqul Farooq delivered speeches.
Imran Khan regretted that Muslims were being murdered in the world but there was no one to raise voice in their support. He criticized the OIC for its indifference towards the plight of Muslims terming it a toothless organization with no influence and unity in its ranks. Recalling the atrocities perpetrated on innocent Afghans, he said prisoners of war (PoWs) had their right to stay anywhere in the world but the Afghan PoWs were murdered like animals and transported to Cuba, where they were meted out inhuman treatment.
Lashing out at the government for supporting America, he condemned the presence of FBI men in Pakistan, which, he added, had been given freehand by the government. “Innocent and aged Khawajas have been detained due to US pressure despite the court has ordered to release them,” he deplored.
The PTI chief asked the government to adopt a clear-cut policy on Iraq issue. He called upon the people to take active part in such anti-US rallies to exert pressure on the government and register solidarity with the people of Iraq.
Hanif Abbasi stressed the need for unity among the Muslim countries. He criticized the government for siding with the aggressors instead of supporting those being subjected to cruelties. Criticizing the role of UN, he said its fate would also be like the League of Nations.
Siddiqul Farooq said the large presence of people in the rally showed that Pakistanis would stand by their Muslim brethren in the times of trouble.
He also criticised the government’s foreign policies and said “even the best friends of Pakistan are now parting ways with it as a result of its failure to judge things in true perspective.”
Our Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Representatives of Aalmi Tanzim-i-Ahl Sunnat on Thursday burnt an effigy of American President George W. Bush to express their anger against US designs to attack Iraq.
Demonstrators, mainly comprised students from different Madaris, marched from Super Market and dispersed near ‘D-Chowk’ at Jinnah Avenue.
They termed attack on Iraq as war between Islam and the infidels. They carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans condemning the US and countries that supported America in its evil designs against the Muslim world.
They asked the Muslim states to shun their differences and stand together to help their Iraqi brethren at the hour of need.
Meanwhile, representatives of Anjuman Mazarain Punjab (AMP) also staged a protest demonstration in front of the Parliament House. They were demanding ownership rights for tenants of Okara farms.
The AMP is a representative organization of almost one million tenants across Punjab fighting for ownership rights of Okara farms.
The protesters threatened to observe hunger strikes and stage demonstrations in front of the Parliament House and the Punjab Assembly if their demands were not met.
Asha Amir Ali of the Peoples Rights Movement, a component of the AMP, told Dawn that these farmers were tilling lands since 1906, and still they were deprived of any rights.
The vice-president of the AMP, Liaquat Ali, said the government, which claimed to be the representative of the people, should resolve this issue.
Shagufta Bibi, the AMP deputy general-secretary, said the farm authorities were in debt to the government to the tune of million of rupees as a result of corruption and this time again they would try to make it up by taking crops from the tenants by force.
She appealed to the political representatives not to let this happen reminding that seven people had already lost their lives while countless were injured in the previous violence.
The demonstrators reiterated their commitment to the slogan ‘Malki ya Maut’ (ownership or death) and vowed to continue the struggle till justice was served.