Protest day was observed on Friday at the call of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) President Qazi Hussain Ahmed to condemn the arrests of nearly 1,000 activists who wanted to participate in the Caravan from Lahore to Gujrat and institution of a case against Qazi Hussain Ahmed and other activists under MPO-16.
A demonstration was staged in front of Jamia-ul-Aloom attended by more than 200 activists of religious parties and students of religious seminaries. Mufti Hidayatullah Pasroori local chief of MMA said," The MMA will continue anti-government movement to oust General Pervez Musharraf within one year, before the general elections in the country and claimed that religious alliance would achieve its objective soon."
"Our movement is against the dictatorship and those supporting anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam policies of the United States of America," Rao Zafar Iqbal said, adding, "We want that our country gets rid of the dictators and the generals who are spearheading the US policies."
MMA leaders appealed to the opposition parties not to engage themselves with the government for striking a deal. "We appeal to all political parties not to strike deal with Musharraf. All these elements will be called henchmen of America and supporters of a dictator."
They said that elections cannot be free, fair and transparent in presence of Musharraf, therefore we request all the political parties to join hands against him till his ouster from the power. MMA leaders further said the decision of quitting the National Assembly is final and the Majlis' parliamentary party, in its December 6 and 7 meeting will decide about implementation of the resignations.