2010-01-20: LAHORE, Jan. 20: Rallies and demonstrations protesting against the false and baseless trial of Dr Aafia Siddiqui before a US court were held Tuesday evening all over the country on an appeal by the Jamaat e Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan. The protesters condemned the prolonged detention of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and the inhuman treatment being given to her by the super power and called for her immediate release. • In the Punjab capital, large number of people including the workers of the JI and the Shabab e Milli staged a rally near the Masjid e Shuhada. on the Mall. JI secretary general Liaquat Baloch led the rally. In Islamabad, the protest was organised at the Islamabad Press Club. The demonstrators raised slogans against all those siding with the US at this critical juncture. • Addressing the Lahore rally, Liaquat Baloch termed the US as the international terrorist and champion of human indignity. The whole world, he said, was facing terrorism only because of the US. He said the US had been detaining a helpless Pakistani lady who was a Hafiza of the Holy Quran for the last six years. She was subjected to most inhuman treatment and tortured in most brutal ways. But the Pakistani rulers did not have the courage even to demand her release. • “What could be more insulting than the US special envoy rebuking Pakistani parliamentarians in their face and no body taking notice of that”, he added. • He said the PPP had been in power for two years by now. Long time ago, the Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution against drone attacks and demanded an end to these. But instead of implementing that resolution, the government allowed a free hand to the US for drone attacks. • Liaquat Baloch said that Dr. Aafia was a symbol of honour and dignity of the Islamic world .She was innocent but ex general Pervez Musharraf sold her away to the US in return for dollars and the present rulers were continuing his policy. He said nothing good in this regard could be expected from the present rulers. However, the citizens of the country would continue their efforts for the release of their respected sister. • Speaking on the occasion, Dr Farid Piracha said the US was punishing this country merely because of its nuclear programme. He deplored that the women organizations and NGOs were silent on Dr Aafia’s issue.
