HYDERABAD, Jan 15: For the first time since formation of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the religious parties’ alliance, People’s Party Parliamentarians and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement held joint protest demonstrations in Hyderabad and other towns of interior Sindh on Sunday to condemn the US bombardment in Bajaur and the military operation in Balochistan.

The call for staging protest rallies had been given by MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmad and endorsed by the MQM.

In Hyderabad, hundreds of people staged a rally outside the press club.

Speaking on the occasion, district MMA president Maulana Abdul Waheed Qureshi said that by condemning the American bombardment on innocent people in Bajaur Agency, MQM chief Altaf Hussain had taken the first step against the rulers. He hoped that his second step would be to part ways with the government and the third step would be to join the struggle for removal of Gen Pervez Musharraf as the president. He said the fate of President Musharraf would be no different from other generals.

He said that the issues of the Kalabagh dam, Balochistan operation and the bombardment in the NWFP could only be resolved when Gen Musharraf was removed from power.

PPP leader Parvez Ansari said that it was evident that foreign powers were interfering into internal affairs of Pakistan. Under these circumstances, he said, Gen Musharraf had no right to occupy the posts of the army chief and the president.

MQM zonal in-charge Siraj Rajput said his party was committed to oppose the government on the Kalabagh dam and Balochistan operation issues.

NAWABSHAH: Activists of the MQM and the MMA took out protest processions here.

MQM activists marched from the zonal office to the press club. MMA workers also joined the MQM activists outside the press club after marching through different roads.

Prof Aijaz Alam of the MMA said Muslims were being killed in every part of the world due to cowardness of Muslim leaders. He said Muslims should unite against the enemy.

KHAIRPUR: The MQM took out a procession which after passing through main roads of the city and reached the Panj Gulla chowk.

THATTA: A procession of the MQM marched through the National Highway and later reached the local press club.

Leaders of the protesters said the Muttahida would not remain silent on the loss of lives in operations and construction of controversial water projects. They said their party would fight for legitimate rights of people.

DADU: Activists of the MQM took out a procession here to protest against the Kalabagh dam and the Balochistan operation.

They demanded that the government should shelve the Kalabagh project and stop the Balochistan operation.

JACOBABAD: The Jamaat-i-Islami took out a protest procession against the US attack on Bajaur.

The procession started from the party office and after marching through the Quaid-i-Azam road, cinema road, Shahi Bazaar and the tower road reached the DCO chowk where the protesters staged a sit-in for one hour.

They raised slogans against the US for its missile attack on Bajaur, operation in Balochistan and the proposed construction of the Kalabagh dam.

They said the US should apology for the attack.

SUKKUR: More than 200 activists of the MMA and the MQM took out protest processions and held a joint demonstration at the clock tower here.

The MQM activists took out a procession from the party zonal office and after marching through main thoroughfares reached the clock tower where they were joined by the MMA workers.

The protesters condemned the attack by the US and allied forces on Bajaur. They demanded that the matter should be taken up in the Security Council and a case should be registered against the US and allied forces.

JUI activists also held a demonstration and staged a sit-in on the National Highway near Rohri for one hour.

They said the killing of innocent people in Bajaur, Wana and Balochistan could spark hatred among the people and put the integrity and solidarity of the country at stake.

LARKANA: The MMA and the MQM took out a procession in the Qambar town against the bombardment in Bajaur by the US forces.

The procession started form the grain market. The protesters also staged a sit-in outside Pathan mosque and later demonstrated outside press club.

MIRPURKHAS: A procession was taken out by the MMA and the MQM against the US bombardment in Bajaur Agency.

Hundreds of people marched through main roads while raising slogans against the US and reached the Market chowk.

SHIKARPUR: Activists of the Jamaat-i-Islami took out a procession against the Kalabagh dam and military operations in Balochistan and Wana.

Activists of the MQM and the Awami Tehrik also took out separate protest processions.