No to NATO: Protests held across Sindh

Students, political and religous parties rally from Karachi to Tando Adam.

KARACHI:

In a series of demonstrations being held across the city, university students and youngsters assembled outside the US Consulate on Friday, to protest against the recent Nato attack that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead.

The protesters, many clad in green and white shalwar kameez, belonged to different student organisations, such as Jaag Meray Taalib-e-Ilm, Pakistan Awami Sangat and Positively Pakistan.

Holding up the country’s flag, they read out their six-point agenda against the Nato forces and the US, and also held a candlelight vigil.

“An apology from the US is no good, we want the ban on Nato supplies to be made permanent,” said student Ahmed Shah. Fellow protester, Muhammad Zubair, felt that all treaties signed by the government should be made public, along with the formal investigations into the PNS Mehran Base attack and the bin Laden operation.

The demonstrators sang the national anthem outside the consulate and shouted, “Nahi chalay-gee Nato Gardi” (Nato pressure won’t be tolerated).

The students warned of daily protests outside the consulate, if their demands were not accepted.

Meanwhile Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)  in Karachi also organised a protest rally of their own. Addressing the rally outside  Binoria Masjid after Friday prayers, JI leader Ghafoor Ahmed, asked the Pakistan government to end their support for the war on terror, in the larger interest of the country. He added that the nation would support the government’s stance.

Ahmed said that the drone strikes and attacks on the Pakistani checkposts negate national sovereignty. It is evident from these attacks that it is not Pakistan’s war, but an American war, he said. He appreciated the government decisions taken following the attacks and emphasised that they should be practically implemented.

JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman demanded the forces vacate the Shamsi and Shahbaz air bases.

Separately, on the call of JI amir, Syed Munawar Hasan, rallies and demonstrations were also held in other cities and towns of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Tando Adam.

In Hyderabad, a protest day was observed by religious and political parties. They demanded that the government withdraw all cooperation with the US and its allies in the war against terror, in which Muslims are being killed.

Rallies were organised by the JI, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F), Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto). Protesters burnt US flags and effigies of its leaders.

“It’s not an attack on 24 Pakistani soldiers, but on the entire nation,” read a banner of a JI rally, led by JI Hyderabad President Shaikh Shoukat Ali. The party leader appreciated the government’s decision to instruct the US forces to vacate the Shamsi air base.

“The government needs to stop relying on foreign loans, since the country’s sovereignty is dependent on its financial independence,” said Ali. He asked the nation to also raise its voice against the killings in the tribal areas by US drones. Dr Younis Danish of JUP, at a separate rally, said the attack is a reflection of the US and NATO’s frustration over thier failure in Afghanistan, which they want to pin on Pakistan. “It is time to get rid of the mess that was created by Pervez Musharraf,” he added.

Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadis observed a protest day in its mosques. Other protests were organised by the Sunni Tehreek, Ahle Sunnat Wal-Jamaat, Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League, PPP, Punjabi Pakhtun Ittehad, National Commission for Justice and Peace Karachi (Catholic Bishop Conference of Pakistan), Mohajir Qaumi Movement.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2011.