Against restoring NATO supplies: DPC announces long march to parliament
The long march on Sunday (today) against the resumption of NATO supplies through Pakistan shall be a step towards ending US influence in the country, speakers at a Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) meeting said on Saturday.
Addressing the DPC All Parties Conference hosted by Jamatud Dawa (JD) at a private hall with Maulana Samiul Haq in chair, they announced that arrangements had been finalised for the march which would reach Islamabad in two days.
Participants of the meeting included the heads of several religious parties, ex-ISI chief General (retd) Hameed Gul and three ex-brigadiers, Nadir Mir, Hamid Saeed and Muhammad Hanif and Awami Muslim League head Sheikh Rasheed.
In his opening speech, Maulana Samiul Haq, said that the re-opening of NATO supplies was an insult to the parliament. On behalf of the participants of the APC, he demanded that the government resign.
He said that the long march was not just against re-opening NATO supplies but also against corruption, the increase in prices and power outages. He asked drivers, conductors, helpers and mechanics of NATO containers should refuse to work on them since advancing the NATO supply was an “un-Islamic act.”
Qari Mansoor Ahmed, representative of Tehreek Ghalba-i-Islam, told the participants that stopping NATO supplies was a favour to the Taliban. “Our party is fighting against US forces in Afghanistan shoulder to shoulder with the Taliban and will do whatever it takes to ensure NATO supplies remain suspended,” he said. “It is an effective tool of jihad (just war).” He said they were aligned with the DPC in line with their chief, Maulana Abdul Jabbar’s orders.
JD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that DPC had played a role in keeping NATO supplies suspended for eight months. He said that the DPC believed in non-violent protest and aimed at cutting off NATO supply lines. He said that they hoped to ensure the exit of US forces from the region.
He expressed his apprehension that suicide attacks would start again if the supply line is re-opened and the US stay in the region would be extended.
Introduced as a “symbol of jihad” by the stage secretary, General (retd) Hameed Gul said that the government had announced it would reopen NATO supplies under pressure.
He said that if an agriculturally rich country such as Pakistan could not uphold its sovereignty, no one in the world could do so.
“It is tragic if the decision to re-open supply lines was taken unanimously by the civil and military leadership,” he said.
He said that the supply line agreement was for an unlimited period despite the NATO announcement to leave by 2014. “Parliamentary permission will allow US forces to attack any region in Pakistan or conduct Combat Air Patrol (CAP) if its supply line is attacked,” he said.
He said that the US was attempting to divert Chinese influence away from Pakistan and de-nuclearise, de-Islamise and divide it. “The notion that NATO will not be allowed to transport ‘lethal weapons’ is strange. All weapons are lethal and used against humanity,” he said.
Munawar Hassan, chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami, said that government must act according to mandate or this movement will continue. He said that missing persons and drone attacks were the result of the US war on terror.
Sheikh Rasheed, the APML chief, said that only religious parties can take a principled stand against the US. He asked the government to step down. He also said that the Islamic faith could not be complete without believing in jihad.
Later, addressing a media briefing, Maulana Samiul Haq said they will proceed towards Islamabad through GT Road from Nasser Bagh on Sunday at 10 am. He said they would reach Gujrat on Sunday where they will spend the night. He said that they will reach D Ground Islamabad in front of the Parliament House on July 9 where they will hold a procession and deliver speeches.
He said that this was the first phase of their protests. He said that protest marches will be held on the NATO supply routes; from Quetta to Chaman, Karachi to Hyderabad, Multan to Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha to Mianwali, Peshawar to Khyber Pass, Rawalpindi to Chakwal Talagang, Faisalabad to Sargodha, Khushab and Islamabad, during the second phase of the protests.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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@GS@Y: And then is asks why was he detained at a US airport
@GS@Y: Enjoying a free snack!!
This is what these molvis are good for. Long marches, lavish gatherings, photo publicity, attending foreign embassy receptions, foreign tours, equipping and brandishing their armory, calling everybody that does not see eye-to-eye with them an apostate, blasphemer or kafir.
Where are these molvis when innocent civilians and our armed forces personnel are killed by the TTP and other Afghan Taliban? Where are these molvis when the law of the land is applied by the Supreme Court and corrupt persons are put in the dock and then sent home? Where are these molvis when 'gang rapes' are committed by influential persons and their sons? Where are these molvis when prices are skyrocketing and the poor people are becoming jobless? Where are their funds for lessening the privations of the unemployed?
Why don't they put their heads together and come up with a sensible and workable plan, form an association, donate their funds and put it into action. This will give elevate their souls and create more sincerity. Salams
0+0+0+0+0+0+0+0 = 0
Atleast someone's on road...better than those opposing and still sitting in Parliament. PTI should also join this long march. Cause is for national sovereignty (not political point scoring) - everyone should join it.
@abc: Exactly the point.
Schizophrenic society - surviving on emotions, slogans, and ‘rented honour’ detached from reality.
@abc: You should probably take into account that even doormats can be honest and sincere.
if parties and people like these characters have to defened Pakistan , then Pakistan ka khuda hafiz
Instead of going for long march they should have asked for general elections. They even cannot get all the parties on board for national issues but they get together on dual nationality and contempt of court issues. People are already suffering alot and this will only compound their problem. Only an honest and sincere leadership can drive pakistan out from this plight. Its in the interest of pakistan to have general election and get rid of present regime.
Instead of carrying out long march we must pressurize the government to announce for the general election as this is the democratic way forward and the best way to get rid of the present regime. People are already suffering alot and this type of protest will only compound their problems. Nobody wants to go for a head on collision with nato but an honest and sincere leadership can drive out pakistan from this plight.