Despite tall claims, leaders of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) failed to assemble even 10,000 people for their rally against the anti-Islam film and US policies towards Muslim countries.
Even DPC leaders started dispersing well before the rally reached its planned destination on Jamrud Road. Amongst the more prominent persons taking part in the rally were Maulana Sami Ul Haq, former ISI chief Lt. Gen. (Retd) Hameed Gul, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Prof. Munawar Hassan and Maulana Mohammad Ahmad Ludhyanvi. The leaders while addressing the procession claimed that the movie was a deliberate attempt to provoke the Muslims and to undermine their solidarity. They asserted that the US was constructing a pretext for action against the Ummah. .
They said America had faced a crushing defeat at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan and was now looking for an exit strategy, only before leaving US wanted to lay sufficient grounds for continued unrest and violence. The leaders commended the Taliban for their armed efforts against the US, terming their efforts as ‘a war for independence’. Compared to September 21 however the rally was peaceful and no violence occurred. The leaders did however warn the US that unless a change of policy on their part is witnessed soon, the PDC would issue a call for ‘jihad’ against all western allies.
