News
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Protests erupt over Dr Aafia’s conviction
* Thousands turn out to protest across country
* Protesters chant anti-US slogans
* 14 arrested in Karachi
* Police foil attempts to march on US missionsKARACHI: Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s conviction sparked nationwide protests on Friday with thousands of enraged demonstrators burning US flags and trying to march onto US missions.
In Karachi, Aafia’s hometown, activists of various political parties and common citizens poured into the streets shouting “Death to America”, and “Free Aafia Siddiqui”. They burnt effigies of US President Barack Obama. Riot police stopped hundreds of protesters led by the members of Islami Jamiat Talaba from marching towards US consulate in Karachi. They resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling. At least 14 protesters were arrested.
Aafia’s sister Fowzia Siddiqui, who has vowed to lead a national movement to campaign for her sister’s freedom, told a rally of hundreds of women that the government had failed miserably in helping Aafia. “The sentence bears testimony to the fact that this government is puppet of the US... We are peaceful people and our aim is to bring back Aafia.”
Hundreds took to streets in Lahore, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan led a rally to condemn the verdict as “unethical and inhuman”. Khan warned the verdict could fan anti-American sentiment across Pakistan and the Muslim world.
In Islamabad, police stopped dozens of students from marching on the US embassy. The students intended to hand over a protest note to the mission. The crowd shouted “Crush America,” “Siddiqui is our sister” and “We will bring her back”.
Dozens of lawyers and activists blocked traffic in Multan, shouting “Down with America” and setting fire to effigies of US president and former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. Protest marches were also taken out in Quetta, where Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam and PTI held separate demonstrations in front of the Quetta Press Club.Thousands of political, religious and social activists marched in Peshawar. The protesters were holding banners and placards condemning Dr Aafia’s sentencing. They demanded her release and called for end to drone attacks in Waziristan. In Rawalpindi, a large number of protestors gathered outside the Rawalpindi Islamabad Press Club (RIPC). They demanded quashing of the sentence and Dr Aafia’s release. Protests were also held in Multan, Chakwal and Hyderabad. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk