National interest: Difa-i-Pakistan leaders slam ‘pro-India’ policies
Rally speakers say the CJP should take suo motu action to end drone attacks.
Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, (2L), head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Chairman of the Defence of Pakistan Coalition Maulana Sami ul-Haq (2R), former Pakistani intelligence ISI chief Hamid Gul (R) and Sardar Attique, former prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and who presides over the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (L) join hands at an anti-US rally in Lahore on December 1, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
The Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) leaders said on Sunday the government should play its role in stopping drone strikes in the country and stop the construction of a concrete wall along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
Speaking at a protest rally on The Mall on Sunday, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Maulana Samiul Haq said US presence in the country should end.
He said the chief justice of Pakistan should take suo motu action to end drone attacks.
Haq said the need of the hour was for the people to unite and the army, judiciary and the politicians to act in unison. He praised Imran Khan for protesting against NATO supply.
“If the armed forces fail to protect the country, the people of Pakistan will do it,” he said.
Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said the sectarian clashes and terrorism in Balochistan, were occurring because of India, the US and Israel.
He criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for visiting Afghanistan and said the PM had been issuing some controversial statements. “His pro-India polices are not acceptable,” he said.
Saeed said he had heard that the Jacobabad airbase was being given to the US.
“I appeal the Taliban to issue a statement saying they would fight for Pakistan’s defence if drone attacks are not stopped,” he said.
The Jamatud Dawa chief said India wanted to build a wall in Kashmir. He said it was to this end that it had staged the “Bombay drama” and accused him of terrorism. He said the government should play its role to stop the construction of the wall. Otherwise, he said, private citizens would go and destroy it.
Lt Gen (r) Hamid Gul said Pakistan was in a state of war with the US and India. He said the drone strikes would be extended to Lahore if the Pakistani government did not stop them soon. He said the US was making Pakistanis fight each other. “The US is being given 84 acres of land for its embassy in Islamabad and 50 acres of land in Lahore.”
He said operations at NATO’s terminal in Karachi should be stopped.“The DPC is often labeled as a religious platform…I’m not a mullah but only a soldier sworn to defend Pakistan.” He urged the participants to unite against drone strikes and anti Pakistan moves. Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said India planned to build a 150-mile wall to divide Kashmir. He regretted that the Pakistani government had not even condemned it.
He said the prime minister should raise concerns over killings of 600,000 Kashmiris and actions meant to deprive Pakistan of river waters.
The rally started from Nila Gumbad and ended near Masjid-i-Shahuda on The Mall. The participants carried flags and chanted slogans against the US, India and the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2013.
The Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) leaders said on Sunday the government should play its role in stopping drone strikes in the country and stop the construction of a concrete wall along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
Speaking at a protest rally on The Mall on Sunday, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Maulana Samiul Haq said US presence in the country should end.
He said the chief justice of Pakistan should take suo motu action to end drone attacks.
Haq said the need of the hour was for the people to unite and the army, judiciary and the politicians to act in unison. He praised Imran Khan for protesting against NATO supply.
“If the armed forces fail to protect the country, the people of Pakistan will do it,” he said.
Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said the sectarian clashes and terrorism in Balochistan, were occurring because of India, the US and Israel.
He criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for visiting Afghanistan and said the PM had been issuing some controversial statements. “His pro-India polices are not acceptable,” he said.
Saeed said he had heard that the Jacobabad airbase was being given to the US.
“I appeal the Taliban to issue a statement saying they would fight for Pakistan’s defence if drone attacks are not stopped,” he said.
The Jamatud Dawa chief said India wanted to build a wall in Kashmir. He said it was to this end that it had staged the “Bombay drama” and accused him of terrorism. He said the government should play its role to stop the construction of the wall. Otherwise, he said, private citizens would go and destroy it.
Lt Gen (r) Hamid Gul said Pakistan was in a state of war with the US and India. He said the drone strikes would be extended to Lahore if the Pakistani government did not stop them soon. He said the US was making Pakistanis fight each other. “The US is being given 84 acres of land for its embassy in Islamabad and 50 acres of land in Lahore.”
He said operations at NATO’s terminal in Karachi should be stopped.“The DPC is often labeled as a religious platform…I’m not a mullah but only a soldier sworn to defend Pakistan.” He urged the participants to unite against drone strikes and anti Pakistan moves. Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said India planned to build a 150-mile wall to divide Kashmir. He regretted that the Pakistani government had not even condemned it.
He said the prime minister should raise concerns over killings of 600,000 Kashmiris and actions meant to deprive Pakistan of river waters.
The rally started from Nila Gumbad and ended near Masjid-i-Shahuda on The Mall. The participants carried flags and chanted slogans against the US, India and the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2013.