DPC flays Nato strike, MFN status to India

SAFDAR RASHEED

LAHORE: Speakers at an impressive rally at the historic Minar-e-Pakistan ground held under aegis of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) said here on Sunday that the nation was united for defense and security of the country and its nuclear assets.

The speakers were included DPC chairman Maulana Samiul Haque, Chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Saeed, Secretary General Jamaat-e-Islami Liaquat Baloch, Ejazul Haque, Lt. General Hameed Gul (Retd), Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and others.

The speakers condemned NATO air strike on two border posts in Mohmand Agency on Afghan border last month and giving MFN status to India.

JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said NATO's attack on Pakistani outposts in Mohmand agency was a dangerous message conveyed to Pakistan, however, the religious forces were united against any foreign aggression.

He further said the religious parties would never compromise on the sovereignty and integrity of the country and were ready to pay any price and make every sacrifice.

Hafiz Saeed announced to hold public gatherings across the country.

He warned that the people would took to roads and stage sit-ins throughout the country if government restored NATO supply lines for the US forces "The. government should give a deadline for ending the war against terrorism and terminate all previous agreements with US forces regarding logistic support to the US forces," he demanded.

He apprehended that the Americans after defeat in Afghanistan, intended to create misunderstandings among the Pakistani people about its Armed Forces but they would never succeed as the whole nation stands behind Pakistan Army.

Addressing the gathering Ameer Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-S (JUI-S) and Chairman DPC Maulana  Sami-ul-Haq said US must refrain from attacking Pakistan's sovereignty and recognise it as an atomic power just like India.

Terming the ongoing war as a clash of civilisations Maulana Samiul Haq said it was an eternal struggle between good and evil and the conference would prove to be a milestone in pushing out the US from this region.

He emphasised that the Difa-e-Pakistan Conference was not pursuing any political objectives and its sole aim was to strengthen the defense of the country by rising above the political and personal motives and only to stop the onslaught of enemies of Islam and Pakistan

He warned that successive rulers from Musharraf to Gilani had weakened national defense and destroyed security by surrendering before US demands of " do more". It was high time that rulers give up becoming agents and spokesmen of the US and work for consolidating national security

Speaking on the occasion Jamaat e Islami Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said that the rulers would have to stop the US from interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs and make Washington vacate all our airbases like the Shamsi Airbase.  He said that if the NATO supplies were restored, the masses would rise against the government.

Liaqat Baloch paid tributes to nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and his colleagues for making Pakistan an atomic power. He was sure that Pakistan would exist on the world map with its nuclear capability till the Day of Judgement. He was sure that the Pakistan's future would be in the hands of Islamic forces and in the enforcement of the Shariah. The people of Pakistan would continue to stand behind their Kashmiri brethren struggling for freedom, he added.

He said thousands had thronged the Minar-e-Pakistan grounds on the call of the DPC and resolved to protect the country's independence and sovereignty, and to get rid of the elements who had sold the motherland for a few dollars.

He called for bringing to light all the agreements made with the US during the Musharraf rule and scrapping them. He said the Pakistanis were courageous people who would not accept the slavery of the US or India.

Addressing the rally Awami Muslim League (AML) chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and PML-Zia chief Ijaz Ul Haque proposed that public meetings series be continued.

But General Hamid Gul opposed the suggestion and said in the first phase, they must concentrate on the announced motives and aims.

Leaders from Sikh, Christian and Hindu communities also attended the rally to protest against the US aggression.

The rally was also addressed by Hafiz Akif Saeed, Saifullah Khalid, Ibtasam Elahi Zaheer while a large number of religious parties heads were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, JuD workers took out motorcycle rallies in the city in the morning to muster public support for the rally. JuD also set up welcome camps at several city squares and main streets where national songs were played and announcements on loud speakers were made to invite masses to support the cause of national defense and security.