Islamic groups protest arrests of suspected militants

A coalition of radical Muslim groups will stage nationwide demonstrations in Pakistan to protest an ongoing crackdown on Islamic schools, mosques and offices that has netted more than 200 suspects, a senior cleric said today.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, a senior leader of the six-party coalition called Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, or United Action Forum, said Pakistan’s government had arrested a large number of innocent people to appease Western countries.

Ahmad said no terrorists were arrested in the raids on Islamic schools, or madrassas, and mosques, and demanded the immediate release of all detainees. He said the coalition would hold peaceful protest rallies later today.

Ahmad’s comments came a day after Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf appealed to the nation in a televised address to “rise up and wage jihad against extremist elements,” which he vowed to crush.

Musharraf condemned those who carried out the July 7 suicide attacks in London, which killed 56 people and wounded 700 others.

Pakistan is a key ally of the US in its war on terror. Musharraf insisted his country shouldn’t be labelled as lax in efforts to combat terrorism, just because three suspected suicide bombers in London were of Pakistani origin and visited Pakistan last year.

Pakistani intelligence, acting on a tip from British authorities, were looking for Indian national Haroon Rashid Aswat, 31, who reportedly was in close contact with the alleged bombers. An official said today that attempts to locate a record of his arrival in Pakistan were unsuccessful.

The official said investigations were continuing.