JI demands expulsion of US ambassador

Party chief slams Biden’s remarks that Pakistan’s nukes not safe

LAHORE:

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Sunday demanded that the government announce expulsion of the American ambassador until his country apologised for President Joe Biden’s anti-Pakistan statement.

Biden made the remarks late Thursday while talking about US foreign policy during a private Democratic Party fundraiser in California, but the White House later published a transcript of his comments on Saturday, sparking outrage in Pakistan.

“What I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion,” the US president had said.

Incensed by the off-the-cuff remarks at a most critical moment in the patchy relations between the Cold War friends, Islamabad had summoned the US ambassador for an explanation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet dismissed concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

“Let me reiterate unequivocally: Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards as per IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] requirements. We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness. Let no one have any doubts,” he tweeted.

In a separate statement, the Prime Minister Office said Pakistan rejected the US President’s remarks, which were “factually incorrect and misleading”.

“Over the past decades, Pakistan has proven to be a most responsible nuclear state, wherein its nuclear programme is managed through a technically sound and foolproof command and control system,” the statement read.

It noted that Pakistan had also consistently demonstrated responsible stewardship of its nuclear-weapon capability, marked by a very strong commitment to global standards, including those of IAEA on non-proliferation, safety, and security.

The White House said President Biden’s remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear programme were “nothing new” as he had made such comments before.
In response to a question during a media briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden viewed a “secure and prosperous” Pakistan as critical to “US interests”.

However, that was not enough for the JI chief, who said the former and current rulers were American slaves while the people believed in bowing down to the Almighty alone.

Siraj said a Pakistan with nuclear weapons ensured its freedom and integrity.
He condemned Biden’s statement that Pakistan’s nukes were not safe.

Criticising the current and previous governments, Siraj claimed that the PTI and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) were the pawns of the international establishment and they only followed their orders.

The JI chief maintained that it was the incompetence of the rulers and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) slavery that the 220 million population of the country was gripped by crises.

“That is why the Jamaat-e-Islami is now the only option that can make the country happy and developed,” he added.

The JI chief claimed that the country and its people were not enjoying true freedom.

“Only the Islamic system can guarantee true freedom,” he claimed.