Sea of Humanity Floods Karachi for Dr Aafia
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Sep 29, 2010
KARACHI: A massive rally organised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Tuesday unanimously demanded that the United States government set aside the 86-year jail term of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and release her forthwith. A very large number of people, including women and children, took part in the rally held on M.A. Jinnah Road to express solidarity with Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Besides representatives of other political and religious parties, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, Aafia’s elder sister, also attended the rally. Strict security arrangements were made by the police and Rangers and the main M.A. Jinnah Road was closed to vehicular traffic. Workers of the MQM manned the inside security of the venue, spreading from the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum to Tibet Centre. The participants of the rally replied in the affirmative when Dr Sattar asked them whether this massive rally condemned in the strongest terms the sentencing of Dr Aafia Siddiqui by a US court. Declaring Aafia “the daughter of the nation”, the participants shouted huge slogans in her favour and rejected the sentence handed down to her on what they said fake and concocted charges. Through another resolution, the rally demanded the US government and President Barack Obama set aside Dr Aafia’s jail term and release her immediately. Earlier, speaking at the rally, Dr Sattar said the entire nation and the MQM were with Dr Aafia Siddiqui. “MQM rallies being held at 60 places in the country reflect that the 170 million people of Pakistan demand Dr Aafia’s release.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui thanked MQM chief Altaf Hussain and the people of Karachi for extending their all-out support to her sister. “This huge rally proves that the whole nation wants Dr Aafia released.” While the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, spoke at length on Dr Aafia’s Siddiqui’s issue and certain other matters in his speech, he also asked the people of Karachi to make their city a peaceful place and protect one another’s life and property. He said people belonging to different ethnicities were living in Karachi and it was their collective duty to protect every citizen irrespective of his or her ethnicity.
Daily JANG (Sep 29, 2010) Headline
NATION
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