Thousands protest against Dr. Aafia’s false trial, demand her release.

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.

JI chief appeals for protest tomorrow in support of Dr Aafia.

2010-01-19:
LAHORE, Jan. 18: The Jamaat e Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan has appealed to the nation to hold protest demonstrations and torch bearing rallies tomorrow, January 19, to express their solidarity with Dr Aafia Siddiqui as she faces her trial before a US court in totally baseless and concocted cases. The JI chief directed JI deputy secretary general Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha to coordinate such rallies with the support of the party at federal and provincial levels and in major cities. According to a Mansoora press release on Monday, Syed Munawar Hasan said that it was the moral duty of the Pakistani nation to come on roads for the sake of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Haafiza of the Holy Quran as she faced trial. He said all political and religious parties both in the government and the opposition should prepare themselves for an answer before Allah Al-Mighty on the doomsday about the part they played when a daughter of the nation was being disgraced in an American court. It is important that the renowned British journalist and newly convert to Islam, Ynonne Ridley, Dr Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui and Begum Amna Masud Janjua, head of the Missing Pakistanis organization, have also appealed for protest demonstration on Tuesday evening.

JI chief calls for end to military operation.

2010-01-18:

LAHORE, Jan. 17: The Jamaat e Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan has called for immediate end to the military operation in Baluchistan and for booking Pervez Msharraf in Akbar Bugti’s murder case to cool down the Baluchistan people. Addressing a “ Save Baluchistan Conference” organized by the JI at Hub on Sunday, he also demanded registration of an FIR in regard to the Turbat martyrs to the satisfaction of the bereaved families and recovery of the missing Baluchis, says a JI press release issued from Mansoora. Syed Munawar Hsasan said that the US involvement in the country was increasing with every passing day only because of the cowardice of our rulers. In the February elections, he said, the masses had voted for a change but the Zardari government was still continuing Musharraf;s policies while the PML(N), the ANP, the MQM and the JUI were fully with the government in its pro-US policies. He said the PPP government would be helpless without their support. He said that Mian Nawaz Sharif was opposing the government only from Model Town and if he really opposed the government policies, he should come on The Mall. He deplored that even the armed forces were second to none in supporting the US policies. He said that military operation was no solution as it only created hatred. He said that the US, India, Israel and other enemies of Islam had their greedy eyes on the rich resources of Baluchistan and were hatching conspiracies every day. The Baluch people, he said had always supported Pakistan but the government was pushing them to the wall. The JI Baluchistan chief Abdul Mateen Akhundzada also addressed the occasion.