KARACHI, 20 October — The Pakistan government yesterday banned the entry of three religious leaders into southern Sindh province in an attempt to thwart anti-United States demonstrations, a government official said. Qazi Hussain Ahmad, head of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and Azam Tariq, leader of sectarian militant group Sipah-e-Sahaba, were banned from Sindh province for 30 days, said provincial Home Secretary Brig. Mukhtar Sheikh here.

Fazlur Rahman and Azam Tariq are already under house arrest, in North West Frontier Province and Punjab province, respectively. But the JI chief has called a major rally in Jacobabad, 500 kilometers from Karachi, next Tuesday. And the Defense Council of Afghanistan, a coalition of religious parties, has announced a "million march" in Karachi on Oct. 26 to be led by party heads.

The provincial home secretary told reporters that the three leaders "have been banned (from Sindh) for 30 days as their presence here can create law and order problems."

One person was killed and 24 people injured during clashes between police and protesters on Sunday, when Islamic extremists tried to march to the Jacobabad airfield, that has been used by US forces.

Sheikh said the authorities would try to stop the rallies, which are also banned by the government. Police last week arrested former Jaish-e-Muhammad leader Abdullah Shah Mazhar for violating a government ban on displaying weapons.

Mazhar, who now lead the radical Tehreek-al Furqan party, was arrested while leading a procession last week during anti-US demonstrations in the city. Police and paramilitary troops have tightened security and are patrolling Jacobabad.

The JUI said there would be demonstrations in Jacobabad after Friday prayers, which will be addressed by the leaders of religious parties. Jamaat-e-Islami has condemned the ban on its chief and vowed to defy the ban on protests. "We don’t accept such a ban and our party and Qazi Hussain Ahmad will defy the ban," Asadullah Bhutto, the head of JI in Sindh, said.

Thousands of JI workers will enter Jacobabad on Oct. 23 to protest the presence of US forces at the Pakistani air base, he said. In Pakistan, rallies are banned, but public meetings can be held to express views.