International   

Pakistan alliance firm on strike

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), alliance of religious parties in Pakistan, on Sunday announced that it would go ahead with the nationwide strike on March 3 in protest against publication of offensive cartoons against Prophet Muhammed though the day is expected to coincide with the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush.

Leader of the Opposition and MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman said here there was no change in the schedule.

He accused the Government of forcibly preventing a rally planned by the alliance in Lahore that day. In the aftermath of the disturbances in Lahore and Peshawar 10 days ago, the Government was seriously concerned about the deteriorating situation. Much to the relief of the Musharraf regime, the protests organised by the religious parties last week passed off peacefully.

The Lahore police detained many leaders and activists of the religious parties ahead of the rally. Police chief Khawaja Khalid Farooq told reporters that the police had blocked all streets leading to the central mall where the protest was to be held.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Abbas threatens to quit
Thaksin's poll move comes under fire
Pakistan alliance firm on strike
Geneva talks a victory for peace, says Colombo
U.K. Minister's link with "corruption'' row
New Premier for Jamaica
Targeting "hooligan skiers"
Bird flu found in Geneva
U.K. troops to check Al-Qaeda's drug funds
Shell told to pay damages
Drought threat to Kenya
U.N. is riddled with scandals, says Bolton

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu