MMA launches poll campaign

The leaders of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) completed the first leg of their 'train march' last evening and managed to gather around 1,500 supporters at Lahore railway station despite the efforts by the authorities to block any such gathering by erecting barricades around the important railway stations between Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The train carrying MMA leaders Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Samiul Haq and Sajid Naqvi reached Lahore at 6.30 pm where a charged crowd chanting slogans and waving the MMA flag received it.

Heavy police contingents were deployed at Gujjar Khan, Jhelum, Lala Musa and Gujrat to bar people from reaching the railway stations. Many passengers of Awami Express, which runs from Rawalpindi to Karachi, also suffered.

Some of them scuffled with the police as they were not allowed to enter the platforms at various railway stations.

The police even stopped many bearded journalists considering them to be the supporters of the religious leaders.

The MMA leaders briefly addressed supporters at various stops. Around 100 supporters and journalists accompanied the leaders of Pakistan's six main religious parties during their 300-km journey.

The leaders said the 'train march' was the beginning of the journey towards the formation of a true Islamic society in Pakistan.

In Lahore, the participants in the march were received by ARD chief Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan.
The elderly politician congratulated the participants for braving the hurdles created by the government in reaching their destination.

Addressing the gathering at Lahore station, the MMA leaders condemned the military regime for suppressing people's political rights and urged the people to get united under the banner of MMA to usher in an Islamic revolution guaranteeing justice, peace and security to all citizens irrespective of religion, race and language.