All up and against NATO’s aggression

Lahore Bar Association (LBA) on Thursday took out a rally from Aiwan-e-Adl to Punjab Assembly, to condemn the NATO strikes on Pakistan Army check posts in Mohmand Agency and to express solidarity with the Pakistan Army. The rally, which started from Aiwan-e-Adl, was joined by Supreme Court Bar association, Lahore High Court Bar Association at GPO Chowk, by Punjab Union of Journalists and Lahore Press Club in front of Diyal Singh Mansion and by All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran in front of Panorama centre. The traders of Mall Road showered flower petals on the participants of the rally. A good number of lawyers participated in the rally and chanted slogans against America, NATO and President Asif Ali Zardari. They demanded of the government to react strongly against the attack and raise the issue in the Security Council of United Nations.
The participants of rally were carrying national flags, banners, play cards inscribed with ‘America ka jo yar hai ghdaar hai ghadaar hai’ and ‘NATO aggression unacceptable’.
Addressing to the participants at Faisal Chowk, the lawyers’ representatives Muhammad Aslam Zar (secretary SCBA), Lehrab Gondal vice chairman PBC, Asghar Ali Gill president LHCBA, Shahzad Hassan Sheikh president LBA demanded of the government to get all army bases vacated including “Shahbaz Air Base” from Americans by December 11. The lawyer representatives also announced a complete strike on December 11 throughout the country.
They said the army should respond to the attacks and the American Consulate should be emptied.
JOURNALISTS PROTEST: Lahore Press Club President Sarmad Bashir condemned the NATO attacks and also the insensitive attitude of US government. He said the US called for investigation into the attacks, but it had not bothered to hold any investigation before waging war on Afghanistan and Iraq.
He also criticised the non-participation of political parties in the Thursday’s rally. He said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan should have joined the rally.
TRADERS PROTEST: The Mall and Hall Road Traders’ Association presidents Naeem Mir and Babar Mehmood, and All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Khalid Pervez also spoke on the occasion. The traders also installed a monument at Charring Cross to pay tribute to the martyrs of Mohmand Agency attack. Strict security measurements had been taken for the rally.
‘REMOVE KIYANI’S POSTERS!’: Former SCBA President Asma Jehangir bluntly refused to address the rally at Faisal Chowk because the participants were carrying pictures of Army Chief General Kiyani. She left the rally without addressing the participants.
PTI PROTESTS: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a protest demonstration against the NATO attack and Pakistani Government outside the US Consulate on Thursday. PTI members burnt the statue of NATO Chief and demanded the Government to part its ways from US’ alliance. Punjab PTI General Secretary Dr Yasmeen Rashid led the protest whereas Lahore President Mahmood-ur-Rasheed and other PTI officials were also there. Large number of PTI members raised slogans against the NATO attack and Pakistani government. Protestors said the US was Pakistan’s enemy, not an ally. They also said if Pakistani forces answer the NATO aggression with might then the NATO will never dare to attack again. They said condemnation was not enough and the government should kick the US out of the country.
PU PROTESTS: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said the RAW, CIA and Mossad had built a force to destroy our land whereas Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey could defeat the US. He also said the US army was the biggest terrorist in the world which had murdered hundreds of thousands innocent people in Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries but had not apologised. He was addressing a protest gathering against the NATO attack on Pakistani check posts in Mohmand Agency here in the lawn of College of Art and Design, Old Campus. ARTS COUNCIL PROTEST: A protest will be held by the literary and artist community under the banner of the Lahore Arts council on December 3, at 2 pm. The venue is Al Hamra Arts Council.