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| India-Pakistan |
| Fundo Bigs rant, rave, threaten... |
| 2002-06-17 |
| LAHORE, June 17: Various religious, Kashmiri, and political leaders on Sunday warned of a tough resistance against the Musharraf government if it took an Afghanistan-like U-turn on Kashmir or compromised the most cherished national cause. "Kashmir Jihad will continue till the liberation of Kashmir from Indian occupation and implementation of UN resolutions. The military government which had already sold out Afghanistan must not do the same with Kashmir because it would amount to betraying Pakistan, and all religious forces now stand united to resist it," they warned while addressing a mammoth Kashmir Conference organised by Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) here. The leaders of the six-party alliance demanded immediate expulsion of the US army, FBI and CIA officials from Pakistan, warning they (US forces) would destroy Pakistan's nuclear programme to enslave the nation. They also advised Gen Musharraf to see through the US-Indian conspiracy of secluding the army from Mujahideen, religious forces and the people, and avoid taking punitive measures against Jihadis. All of the leaders sent messages to Kashmiri leadership, Mujahideen and people that this mammoth gathering was a proof that the Pakistani nation still stands unitedly behind them and support their freedom struggle. The conference was presided over by JI Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad who warned that if the US forces were not expelled and their bases from Pakistan not abolished immediately they will destroy the Pak nuclear programme. "If that happens, the entire Kashmir, nuclear programme and our independence will be taken away from us," he said. He said freedom of Kashmir was the completion of Pakistan and was duly allowed by the UN and other world organisations who had acknowledged it as a genuine freedom movement until 9-11. After that the anti-Muslim Jewish conspirators ruling the US overpowered the entire west and dubbed all Muslims as terrorists. He advised Gen Musharraf not to back out from Kashmiris support otherwise the nation would not allow him to rule any further. "Musharraf should rest faith in Allah's help and do what is right, the nation will be behind him." Qazi warned if referendum like rigging was repeated in general elections it would be the end of Musharraf. He demanded reorganisation of Election Commission and voters lists. JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman accused the military rulers of selling out Islam, Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan and nuclear programme to the US masters. He said: "The Pakistan Army always served the US interests, while religious parties always acted according to Islam. Incidentally the US interests coincided with Islam during the Afghan Jihad against Russians, that was why army supported that Jihad, but against Taliban and now in case of Kashmir the US interests were against Islam that's why army leadership is against Muslims and jihadis." He alleged the Musharraf government had already accepted the independent Kashmir option against the will of Pakistani and Kashmiri people. JUP leader Gen KM Azhar (retd) said Jihad is the essential part of our faith and as the armed forces of Islamic republic of Pakistan the military leaders must not shy away from it. Allama Sajid Naqvi said only unity could steer the Ummah out of the present situation as the rulers were taking decision which were against the national interests. He said the public was wise enough as they could differentiate between friend and foe, adding that Jihad could not be stopped at any cost as it was the essence of Islamic teachings. APHC leader Ghulam Mohammad Safi said UN was now backing out on its verbal support to Kashmir under the US pressure. He said Kofi Annan paid tributes to East Timorese guerilla struggle against Indonesia in the first ceremony of East Timor nation. "But he is dubbing Kashmiris as terrorists which is unjustified." PML-N leader Kh Saad Rafiq also expressed full cooperation on behalf of his party to the MMA leadership regarding the Kashmir cause. Jamiat Ahle Hadis leader Sajid Mir said the Musharraf government was the first regime that had openly backed out of the 50-year-old national policy on Kashmir and started dubbing freedom fighters as terrorists. Jamaat-ud-Dawah leader Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki said the large number of participants was a clear signal to the government that it would not let any person to bargain or take a U-turn on Kashmir. He said the public had rejected the government's 'step-back' policy on national issues. He said instead of resisting the anti-Pakistan policies, the policy-makers were giving benefit to the enemies of the country. JI AJK Amir Abdul Rasheed Turabi said the struggle of Kashmiris had entered a final phase and the time was not far when the Kashmir would be a part of Pakistan. The MMA leaders also appealed to the nation to boycott the interest-based economy and withdraw their accounts from UBL which has filed a petition against the riba-free banking system. At the end of his speech, Qazi Hussain Ahmad announced that MMA has decided to boycott UBL. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |