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| India-Pakistan |
| Jihadi groups demonstrate against US, Musharraf |
| 2001-10-12 |
Crowds began streaming into the ground shortly after Friday prayers as police, paramilitary and regular army troops were deployed in force to ensure no repeat of the violence that wracked this southwest Pakistan city on Monday and Tuesday. The protest was organised by the Afghan Defence Council and the Jamaat-Ulema-Islami (JUI). The JUI has become a rallying point for radical Muslims who remain a minority in Quetta and its 1.2 million population. The rally defied predictions and ended peacefully, but with a resolution warning Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to free all detained JUI members by October 14 or face the consequences. JUI claims about 500 militants have been arrested since Monday's violence when buildings were gutted, banks looted and five people died. The detained include JUI leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. "These people are innocent. They have every right to protest and they are not miscreants. They just want to save our country," said JUI acting president Maulvi Abdul Ghani. If Musharraf failed to meet the demand then the JUI would not be able to restrain its activists, Ghani warned. "Musharraf is selling the blood of martyrs, just for a few dollars," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |