PAKISTANIS CALL FOR HOLYWAR AGAINST US
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, April 6, 2012 (AFP) - Hundreds of Pakistani Islamist activists took to the streets Friday, calling for holy war and torching a US flag to condemn a $10 million US bounty on the founder of a terror group.
The Defence Council of Pakistan, an alliance of right-wing, religious and extremist groups, has called for rallies to denounce the move against Hafiz Saeed, whose Lashkar-e-taiba group was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, around 500 activists shouted “Al-jihad, AlJihad (holy war)” as they marched on the city and set fire to a US flag in a main
Speakers asked President Asif Ali Zardari to cancel a planned visit to India on Sunday and demanded an American apology for the bounty
square.
Speakers asked President Asif Ali Zardari to cancel a planned visit to India on Sun- day and demanded an American apology for the bounty.
“Such steps are forcing Muslims towards guns,” said Abdul Aziz Alvi, the local head of Jamaat-ud-dawa, which is seen as a front for LET, is headed by Saeed and blacklisted by the United Nations and United States.
“We condemn American announcement against Hafiz Saeed,” cried a banner at the rally, attended by members of other banned and religious groups.
The reward for Saeed was announced by US Under Sec- retary of State Wendy Sherman in India on Monday.
Saeed, who lives openly in Pakistan, has mocked the charges, calling a press conference to say he is ready to face “any American court” to answer charges.