Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

Pakistani Islamist urges protests against Musharraf

Sun Nov 4, 2007 3:24pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - An influential Pakistani Islamist opposition leader on Sunday called for a nationwide protest against President Pervez Musharraf, urging people to come onto the streets to overthrow the country's military leader.

"People will now come on the street and will throw out the military dictator," said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the leader of an alliance of Islamist parties and fierce critic of Musharraf.

Ahmed, who heads the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance, made the call while addressing a congregation of 20,000 people near the eastern city of Lahore a day after General Musharraf proclaimed emergency rule to combat spiralling Islamist militancy and interference by judges.

Ahmed, whose own Jamaat-i-Islami party has historic ties with Eygpt's Muslim Brotherhood, said the anti-government campaign would be launched along with religious scholars and lawyers.

Pakistani lawyers also announced a countrywide strike on Monday as the government blacked out private television channels for several hours and arrested scores of opposition leaders and political activists to stifle an outcry against emergency rule and suspension of the constitution.

"I condemn the ban on television channels and arrest of political workers. I condemn the emergency and proclamation of provisional constitutional order," Ahmed said.

India Investment Summit 2009
India Investment Summit 2009

Top executives and bankers discuss their own plans and the broader opportunities and challenges for India during the Reuters India Investment Summit in Mumbai and Bangalore.  Full Coverage | Blog 

Reuters correspondent Sourav Mishra recounts the unforgettable night of Nov. 26 at Mumbai's Leopold Cafe
Back from the Dead
REUTERS WITNESS - 26/11

Reuters correspondent Sourav Mishra recounts the night of Nov. 26 at Leopold Cafe.  Full Article | Full Coverage 

Photo
One Year Later

A look back at the events of 26/11 ahead of the first anniversary of the militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.  Slideshow | Full Coverage 

Photo
Ageing Santa gets $100,000 facelift for Christmas Friday, 20 Nov 2009 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A Santa in New Zealand with a droopy eye has received a NZ$100,000 ($74,000) face-lift in the run-up to Christmas so that his aging face does not scare children.  Full Article