MMA to observe protest day

LAHORE—On the call of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), protest day would be observed throughout the country today (Friday) against the Monday air strike on seminary in Bajaur agency while the process of protest demonstration continued in various parts of the country on Thursday.
As per details, leadership of MMA appealed Ulemas and masses of the country to observe protest day on Friday against killing of innocent students during air bombardment on madressah in Khar, headquarter of Bajaur agency.
MMA leadership urged Ulema-e-Din to adopt resolutions against Bajaur agency incident following Juma prayer. Protest rallies would be taken out throughout the country following Juma prayer. Political and religious parties of Bajaur agency have already announced vehicle jam strike on Friday and Saturday to condemn the attack.
Meanwhile, the process of protest demonstration continued on the fourth day of the seminary attack as all the education institutions and business places remained closed across the NWFP including in Swat. During the protest rallies, demonstrators burnt effigy of United States President Gorge W. Bush and chanted slogans against the Bush administration and Government.
Addressing on the occasion, speakers said that MMA would raise the voice against killing of innocent student outside and inside the Parliament House and demanded to convene session of National Assembly as soon as possible in this regard. Likewise, on appeal of Ameer Jamaat-u-Dawah Hafiz Muhammad Saeed funeral absentia for the martyrs of Bajaur Agency will be offered today (Friday) across the country.
Hafiz Saeed appealed to religious scholars to offer Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza after the Jumah prayers in every Masjid throughout the country for the innocent students who were martyred in Bajaur. Hafiz Saeed himself will lead the Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza at Masjid El-Qadsia Chuburji Lahore. Thousands are expected to attend the prayer.
Prominent leaders from Jamaat-u-Dawah central leadership will lead Namaz-e-Janaza for the martyrs after the Jumah prayers in different cities. While discussing the attack with the central leadership of Jamaat-u-Dawah, which had gathered at Masjid Al Qadsia for that exclusive purpose, Hafiz Saeed expressed his disappointment at the government’s reaction to the attack and termed the attack as blatant terrorism by the US.
He said the Pakistani government instead of vociferously protesting the attack with the US was trying to take responsibility for the attack. He said this posture by the government is giving rise to doubts about the government’s intentions and credibility. He said such an attitude by the government would give rise to conflict and discord in the country.
Hafiz Saeed has also appealed to the nation to display their strong Islamic faith by attending the Namaz-e-Janaza. Religious scholars will comment on the Bajaur attack in their addresses to their respective Jumah congregations and enlighten them about current security threats, which are trying to destabilize the country.
Hafiz Saeed also questioned the silence of the United Nation and human rights organizations about this incident and urged them to come forward and condemn this aggression against innocent children and civilians.
He urged all the religious and political parties of Pakistan to form a united strategy to deal with the Bajaur Agency incident instead of addressing the issue individually. Stressing the severity of the issue, he said it should be condemned and addressed by the whole Muslim Ummah.
Jamaat-i-Islami NWFP Thursday asked the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo moto Bajaur tragedy and announced to rebuild the madrasa and mosque, destroyed in air-strikes in Bajaur agency, besides setting up assistance fund for the support of victims families.
Addressing a press conference at Markaz-i-Islami here on Thursday, provincial amir of JI and former senior minister Sirajul Haq said that JI’s provincial executive council in its meeting decided that the Jamaat would rebuild the destroyed mosque and religious school in Bajaur agency within three months to make it functional.
He said that the JI would also take responsibility for the maintenance of the families of the dead and injured of the Bajaur airstrikes. He said that the Jamaat had established initial assistance fund with Rs 1m and appealed to well-off people to donate generously to fund for assistance of families of the students and teachers of the madrasa and reconstruction of the religious seminary and mosque.
Siraj said that the majority of the victims belonged to poor families and “being a Muslim it is our responsibility to help our brother in time of need.” Provincial amir of JI appealed to supreme court of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of the Bajaur tragedy and proved that the judiciary was existing in the country and sincere in provision of justice to people.
“Such fascist system is prevailing in the country, wherein the innocent people are being dubbed as criminals”, he said and regretted, “our president, prime minister and other officials are taking responsibility of the raids and innocent children and students were termed as terrorists.”
He announced to begin province wide protest movement against US, American terrorism, president Musharraf’s steps and said that protest demonstration, rallies and meetings would be staged across the province to inform the people about this cruel act. He said that the whole Muslim ummah was worried about the brutal action. He said that only America was congratulating the president Musharraf over raids on madrasa.