Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) will hold protest rallies countrywide on Friday (today) against the release of US national Raymond Davis who was arrested for killing two Pakistanis. While addressing a press conference here on Thursday at Lahore press club, Chairman SIC, Sahibzada Haji Fazale Karim appealed to traders to participate in protest rallies and keep their shops closed.
He said that religious leaders from all over the country were in contact and they have assured to support the peaceful strike and protest rallies throughout the country. He said it was matter of national integrity that nation must close their business, markets, bazaars and trade centers to protest against the release of Raymond Davis.
He said Punjab government was equally responsible for the release of Raymond Davis because they were providing all facilities to the accused in jail. Haji Fazale Karim said that SIC would also organise processions today after Friday prayer to record their protest.
In response to a question, Karim said that heirs of the young men, whom, Davis killed, must have been forced to forgive the US national otherwise they would have contacted media. SIC chief said that after releasing Raymond Davis, "it is our demand that Mumtaz Qadri should also be released who was behind the bar in Governor Salaman Taseer murder.
Pir Syed Iqbal Hussain Shah, Pir Syed Ajmal Shah Gilani, Nawaz Kharal, Mufti Muzamal Hussain Shah, Mulana Muhammad Ali Naqshbandi, Sahibzada Naeem Arif Noori, Sahibzada Shahid Hussain Gardazi, Mufti Haseeb Qadri, Zia Naqshbandi, Sahibzada Syed Sabir Gardazi, Sh Azhar and Mueenul Haq were also present on the occasion.