The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) observed Tuesday as black-day throughout the country but failed to bring people on street as expected against the forcible deportation of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia.
The recently established multi-party alliance on Monday announced to observe the day as black-day after their plans to give heroic reception to the PML chief Mian Nawaz Sharif shattered on his arrival from London, who had come after a court verdict favouring his return from exile. He left the country after allegedly making a hidden agreement with the Saudi government in 2000.
In the federal capital, no major demonstration was held. However, a handful of people mostly holding flags of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal gathered in front of the camp office of Islamabad/Rawalpindi press Club, who were addressed by MMA leaders Mian Mohammad Aslam, Syed Bilal and PML-N city president Sajid Abbasi. But no senior leader of PML was present there. It could be the reason that all the senior leadership of APDM had been detained the other day to foil the reception of Nawaz Sharif and his comrades.
The protesters carrying placards and banners inscribing with slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif and criticising the government and President General Pervez Musharraf. They also chanted slogans like-"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif', "Go Musharraf Go' "Death to dictatorship".
The day remained normal in the city as the business activities and offices remained open throughout the day. However, contingents of law enforcement agencies were deployed on main points of the city to cope with any untoward incident but the protesters ultimately dispersed peacefully.
Addressing the protest rally, Mian Mohammad Aslam strongly condemned the deportation of Nawaz Sharif against his will, terming it a sheer violation of fundamental rights of a citizen, contempt of court and betrayal of the Constitution.
He criticised the government's role for what he termed destroying the democratic process and sovereignty of the country. Mian Aslam vowed to fight against the rulers till restoration of real democracy in the country.
Syed Bilal condemned the maltreatment meted out with Nawaz Sharif by the law enforcement agencies before his deportation. He further said that people would strongly react to the unconstitutional and illegal moves being adopted by the government.