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Thousands rally against U.S. in Pakistani capital

21 February 2012 01:39 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Thousands of people rallied in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Monday, protesting against the U.S. policies, strikes by American spy aircraft in the countryâ€™s tribal regions and the resoration of NATO supplies by the government, APA reports referring Xinhua.
Political and religious leaders lashed out at the U.S. and held it responsible for instability in the region and terrorism in Pakistan.
They asked the government to quit the U.S.-led coalition and to form an independent foreign policy free of American influence.
"Joining the U.S. coalition against the so-called terrorism has in fact promoted terrorism," chief of the hardliner Jamaat-e- Islami, Syed Munawar Hsasin told the huge crowd at the Aabpara Chowk, a busy marketplace in the heart of the capital.
The rally was organized by Pakistan Defence Council (PDC), an amalgamation of nearly 40 religious and political groups.
Several banned radical groups are also part of the PDC, which were barred by the federal government after lawmakers protested against their activities.
Head of the council Maulana Samiul Haq in his speech asked the U.S. to leave the region immediately. He condemned the U.S. drone attacks on Pakistani soil and described the attacks as open violation of the countryâ€™s sovereignty.
"American policies in the region are the main cause for insecurity, terrorism and killing of the innocent people in Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
The participants had earlier planned to stage a sit-in outside the parliament but the government did not allow them there.
A large number of riot police have been deployed near the rally to frustrate any attempt to move towards the parliament. No clashes have been reported throughout the sit-in which ended on Monday evening. The police had earlier been put on alert at the entry points of the capital to stop the entry of the banned groups â€™ leaders.
Samil-ul-Haq warned the government against opening of NATO supply routes that were closed in November after the U.S. fighter jets and helicopters struck two Pakistani border posts and killed 24 soldiers. He demanded permanent closure of the NATO supplies.
"If the government restored NTAO supply line, we will close the route with the help of the people," the speakers said.
The leaders announced that they would hold a big rally in the southwestern city of Quetta later this month as part of their anti- U.S. campaign.
The participants chanted "Go America Go," "No to NATO," and " Arrogant Americans, others are also human beings," and "the chains of slavery will now break up." They were also holding banners inscribed with anti-Americans slogans.