Muslims To Protest In Manchester Today Against Musharraf Regime

Manchester, UK, December 7 2004 – Muslims will protest against the Musharraf regime today [December 7th] when President Musharraf addresses a gathering of UK Pakistanis in Manchester. The demonstration follows on from a series of demonstrations held by Hizb ut-Tahrir, a leading global Islamic political party, during President Musharraf’s UK visit. Yesterday, large demonstrations took place as President Musharraf met with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and later addressed a gathering of UK Pakistanis in Central London.

The demonstration will draw attention to Pakistan’s lack of independence under the Musharraf regime and the continued subservience of Musharraf to foreign powers.

Nadeem Ajaib Khan, an organiser of the demonstration, said, “Musharraf has dutifully carried out Bush’s demands – he has sold out over Kashmir, has permitted American forces to establish bases in Pakistan, has legitimised the occupation of Iraq, has provided logistical support and intelligence to US forces in Afghanistan and has surrendered control over Pakistan’s economy to multinationals.”

“Despite his subservience, on his recent trip to the US, he was publicly rebuked over Kashmir and the ’war on terror’ and told not to expect any favours from the Bush administration.”

Dr Imran Waheed, a UK based doctor and the Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, said, “This demonstration shows the massive unease with a regime that calls upon the butchers of Baghdad, Blair and Bush, to solve the Kashmir and Palestine issues. We will be calling for the re-establishment of the Islamic Khilafah [Caliphate] which will end Pakistan’s subservience to foreign colonialist powers and unify the vast armies and resources of the Muslim world into a single state.”

“Hizb ut-Tahrir can see the Khilafah on the horizon – now is the time for the Muslims of Pakistan, particularly the people of power and influence, to remove the weak Musharraf and establish the Islamic Khilafah.”

The Manchester protest will take place TODAY at 3.00 p.m. GMT at The Sheridan Suite, 371 Oldham Road, Manchester, M40 8EA.

Notes to Editors:

Hi-res photos will be available immediately after the demonstration from the campaign website: www.stopbusharraf.com

Hizb ut-Tahrir is an independent Islamic political party. The party works throughout the Islamic world, including Pakistan, to resume the Islamic way of life by re-establishing the Islamic Khilafah [Caliphate]. The party adheres to Islamic law in all aspects of its work and considers violence or armed struggle against the regime, as a method to re-establish the Islamic State, to be forbidden by Islamic law. In the Western world, the party seeks to explain the Islamic ideology to Muslims, to create a dialogue with Western thinkers and to present a positive image of Islam to Western society.

Contact Information

Dr Imran Waheed

Media Representative

Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

Contact via E-mail