Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s rally against the NATO attack at Shahdra Chowk disrupted the traffic for an hour at least, blocking the roads and causing the one of the worst traffic jams of the month.
Areas including GT Road, Kacha Ravi Road and Begum Kot were disturbed due to the rally whereas the commuters complained that the police did not intervene despite the massive traffic blockade. Protestors demanded a stern response from the army and raised slogans against the US.
Same situation was also witnessed at the Bhaikhay Wala Mor on Wahdat Road where the activists of Islami Jamiat Talba blocked the traffic. Angered students from Government Science College were holding sticks and used hurdles to block the roads. A student carrying a stick told Pakistan Today said he knew people were suffering but he was forced to protest by his “ameer”. Students holding placards raised slogans against the NATO attack and also burnt tires to show their resentment. A rickshaw driver said the purpose of the protest was for the right cause but this was not a way to demonstrate. He said these traffic jams were heavily denting their occupation. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Ahmad Mubeen said they could not intervene in the protest because the protests were held for the national cause and it was a sensitive issue. He said the whole city witnessed protests on Monday and the traffic police played its role to restore the traffic despite the protests.
JOURNALISTS PROTEST: Meanwhile journalists also protested against the aggression of the NATO forces outside the US Consulate and demanded the endorsement of the decisions of Defence Coordination Committee (DCC) from the cabinet. Lahore Press Club President Sarmad Bashir, President Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) Rana Azeem, Chairman All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNES) Nasir Naqvi and PU Executive Member Raja Riaz also participated in the protest. Journalists also expressed their solidarity with the martyrs and Pakistan Army.
PTI AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) labour wing also held protest demonstrations outside the Lahore Press Club. PTI members asked the government to part its ways from the war on terror. Protests were also held by different student and civil society organisations at Liberty round about on Monday. Citizens holding placards expressed their solidarity with Pakistan Army while condemning the unprovoked attack on Pakistani territory by the NATO forces.
SCBA, LHCBA protest against NATO attack: Supreme Court Bar Association and Lahore High Court Bar Association lawyers on Monday held a protest rally on GPO Chowk against NATO attack on Pakistani check post which left 24 soldiers dead. Carrying anti-America placards and banners, the lawyers chanted slogans against the US government and demanded the Pakistani government to ensure complete sovereignty of the country.
The two bars condemned NATO attack on Pakistani posts and demanded the government to move the International Court of Justice against such attacks. Unanimously passing a resolution at the joint session of the SCBA and LHCBA, the bars demanded of the government to permanently block NATO supply line. The bars also demanded implementation on decision taken by the Defence Committee of Cabinet, including the blocking of the NATO supply routes as well as the deadline to vacate Shamsi Airbase, also demanding that drone attacks be stopped once.
Earlier speaking at the general house meeting at Kiyani Hall of the LHCBA, lawyers expressed their heart felt sentiments over the infringements of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Prominent among the speakers were SCBA vice president Imrana Baloch, Secretary Aslam Zar, LHCBA President Asghar Gill, Secretary Arshad Malik Awan, Advocate Ahmed Awais, and Azam Nazir Tarar. Addressing the lawyers, Gill said rulers and military brass should listen to the voice of the people who were terming friends of US as traitors. He said lawyers’ community would raise voice against violation of geographical boundaries of the country. He said all state institutions should fulfil their responsibility and act accordingly. He also prayed for departed souls and early recovery of the injured in NATO attack.
Ahmed Awais said Pakistan was an independent country which came into being in result of countless sacrifices and the country’s protection was the people’s first responsibility, adding that there were American agents working for the government and that was why these attacks had happened. He demanded of the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kiani to retaliate in the same way.
SCBA Vice President Imrana Baloch said NATO forces had violated international laws and sovereignty of Pakistan by attacking Pakistani force. Condemning the attack, she demanded the government to avail every legal remedy against the enemies.
‘Declare US as the most
un-favoured nation’: Lahore Bar Association (LBA) President Shahzad Hassan Sheikh on Monday demanded of the government of Pakistan to declare America ‘the most un-favoured nation’ after the brutal attack of NATO forces on two Pakistan army check posts in Mohmand Agency.
Addressing a press conference at Aiwan-e-Adl library, Sheikh said if the federal government can decide to declare India “the most favoured nation” thus it must declare America as its biggest enemy with the permanent ban on the NATO supply as well as on the Afghan trade through Pakistani territory. He said a transparent, clear and un-flexible policy should be adopted in this regard and the whole nation would stand by the army through thick and thin, adding that this was a golden opportunity for Pakistan to regain respect. He announced that LBA would organise a protest rally on December 1 against the NATO attack from Aiwan-e-Adl to the LHC and then to the Punjab Assembly.
MQM protests against NATO attack: Dozens of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists on Monday staged a protest in front of the Lahore Press Club to denounce NATO attack on a Pakistani military check post.
On directions of MQM chief Altaf Hussain, the party’s Lahore chapter arranged the demonstration, which was led by Lahore Divisional In-charge Anwar Shaheen. The protesters were chanting slogans against the US and NATO forces. They termed the NATO air strike on the army check post as an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and demanded the government to lodge a protest at the international forum. MQM leaders, addressing the protest, said that the entire nation supported the army and considered it as a custodian of borders. The protesters said that on appeal of Altaf, they were observing National Unity and Pakistan Solidarity Day.
