MMA observes 'black day' against Musharraf
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties Saturday staged rallies in major cities against President General Pervez Musharraf in a “black day” protest Saturday.

Speakers criticized Musharraf for, what they said; “violating” his pledge to hang up his army uniform by the end of 2004.

The turnout was however marred by severe winter rains continuing in the capital Islamabad and its twin city of Rawalpindi for the past three days.

Rain hit a mass rally planned in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province where some 300 slogan chanting people gathered for a demonstration. Heavy rain and snow also kept people indoors in south-western Baluchistan province.

Around 400 people, some wearing black arm bands and carrying black banners, attended a rally in the central city of Multan with leaders of the Islamic alliance of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal [MMA] criticising Musharraf for not abiding by his pledge.

Black Umbrellas

In Rawalpindi the protesters were carrying black umbrellas and black banners inscribed with anti Musharraf slogans. Main MMA gathering was staged at Liaqat Bagh headed by MNA Hanif Abbasi and other local leaders.

They warned the president to oblige his promise or face the wrath of opposition parties who would carry out more rallies in the coming days.

Hanif Abbasi in his address said that during the five-year tenure of President Gen Pervez Musharraf prices of different commodities have gone up alarmingly, unemployment is on rise and government is helpless in controlling these menaces.

Karachiites ignore Call

Karachiites ignored the call given by the Muttadhida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to observe a ‘black day’ on Saturday. The normal traffic was seen plying in all areas of the metropolis since morning.

The business activities in the city also continued as usual and bazars and markets were open. The new academic session at Karachi University also commenced on Saturday, as per schedule.

Symbolic Protest

In Lahore, the ARD Saturday staged symbolic protest camp to oppose the announcement of President Gen Musharraf to retain both offices of army chief and the president till 2007.

A small number of ARD leaders and workers including women gathered at the spot with carrying placards and chanting slogans, “Go Musharraf Go” against the president urging him to quit both offices.

No prominent central as well as provincial leader was present on the occasion while the ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim also could not turn up as was expected to attend the thinly attended protest show.

Addressing the activists, the alliance provincial leader Naveed Chauhdry said alliance was observing protest day today to express solidarity with MMA.

The MMA observed four protest demonstrations at Muslim Mosque Lohari Gate, Muslim Town Turn, Chowk Yateem Khana and Sadar Bazar Cantt attended by the office-bearers and workers of the party.

The demonstrations were led by MNAs Liaqat Baloch, Farid Piracha, Hafiz Salman Butt, MPA Ehsanullah Waqas, respectively.

Addressing the protesters at Muslim Town Turn, Liaqat Baloch said both the MMA and the ARD were holding meetings of their senior leaders within a couple of days to decide a joint line of action against the army ruler.

He said the MMA activists would continue holding demonstrations on each Friday until the next line of action was decided.

MMA deputy Secretary General alleged that on the US dictation Gen Musharraf was damaging Islamabad’s ties with Beijing and Tehran while practically giving nuclear capability of the country under American check.

Chaudhrys of Gujrat

Criticizing Chaudhrys of Gujrat Baloch said, they are betrayers and a stain on the face of politics”.

In Peshawar rallies which were taken out from various parts of the city under MMA parliamentarians and culminated into a public meeting at Kissa Khawani bazaar.

The provincial ministers including senior minister Siraj ul Haq, Hafiz Hashmat and Kashif addressing the rally said that general Musharraf should not treat Pakistan a military barrack. Pakistan is a democratic state and it came into being on the basis of democracy and Islam.

In Quetta people turned deaf ear to the black day call issued by MMA.

Life in the provincial capital remained unperturbed as people saw little appeal in the stand taken by the MMA against the President, as they seemed to be more interested in the development work pledged by the President to the people of Balochistan. The entire city presented the scene of business as usual. All shops and business centers remained open.

The people felt surprised over the double standard on the part of MMA. MMA on one hand is sharing power with the PML in the province and on the other hand its leaders are opposing the man whom they had many a time called their benefactor.

A handful of the MMA workers staged demonstration at a mosque in the down town in connection with the black day and after passing through Kandhari Bazaar they held a meeting before dispersing peacefully. Protest rallies MMA also held at Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Chitral, and Gujarkhan.

Meanwhile MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that President failed to keep his word on relinquishing the military uniform before Dec 31. He maintained the masses were opposed to Gen Musharraf’s policies and emphatically rejected them.●