ISLAMABAD – As planned, a large number of workers of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) held a rally in Islamabad on Friday to protest against two consecutive suicide attacks on their party chief. The rally started from Lal Masjid and ended at Aabpara Choke, where several JUI-F leaders addressed the participants. The demonstrators carried placards and chanting slogans against the US and Pakistani governments. Addressing protestors, JUI-F Central General Sectary Maulana Abdul Ghafur Haideri said no one was unaware of the appalling intentions of present rulers.
“Why did not any suicide attacker target Maulana Fazlur Rehman when he was the coalition partner of PPP and ANP?” he said, adding that ANP, PPP and the US governments should refrain from their nefarious designs.
“We do not fear death and JUI-F workers embraced martyrdom because death for a good cause is a safe mode for mankind,” he said. He criticised ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, saying he fled to the US when some forces targeted him once. “Our leader is not Asfandyar who is terrified by murder attempts, he (Fazl) would not leave Pakistan until his death,” Haideri said. Condemning the attack on Fazl, other JUI-F leaders called it a conspiracy by “imperialist forces” to harass religious leaders for their struggle against the US. They warned that a civil war would be launched and their party workers would make Pakistan “a graveyard of Americans” if their party chief was hurt even slightly. The protestors also condemned the release of Raymond Davis and desecration of the holy Quran by US pastor Terry Jones, saying Blackwater operatives were roaming freely in Pakistan.
Denouncing the act of US pastor Terry Jones, demonstrators demanded the people of US and Europe stand up against such actions. Meanwhile, convener of World Minorities Alliance (WMA), J Salik, on Friday observed a “black day” by coloring his face black to condemn the desecration of the holy Quran by US pastor Terry Jones. Addressing a news conference at the National Press Club, Salik called on the United Nations to bring in a law for minimising acts that harmed feelings of followers of other religions. “Freedom of expression does not mean that anyone can damage the sanctity of holy books,” he said. He said the Foreign Ministry should urge the US government to fly their flag at half mast over the tragic incident, while the government of Pakistan should also hoist the country’s flag at half mast to register their protest.
Salik urged top functionaries to don black ties until April 21 to register their grief and protest over the incident. He said he would lead a delegation on April 21 towards the local UN office to present a memorandum.
