Political leader warns US to avoid aggression against Pakistan

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, warned the US that Pakistan would not tolerate any more aggressions and would reciprocate any act of hostility with a strong response in future. Addressing a big public meeting in Mardan tribal region in Peshawar, the JUI-F chief urged the Islamabad government to get rid of what he described as the slavery of Americans. Fazlur Rehman accused the government of pursuing pro-US policies, and asked the ruling coalition to quit the US-led coalition as Americans are facing defeat in Afghanistan. "The US and its NATO allies have failed to win the hearts of people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They're now facing a defeat in the Pakhtun belt," he claimed. He also called on the government to make public all agreements signed with Washington since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. "If the government did not disclose the secret accords, Pakistan will never be able to 'say goodbye to the US'," he added. He said that future relationship between Pakistan and the US should be based on mutual respect, trust and equality that reflects the wishes and aspirations of nation and the country's interests should be kept supreme. He said Pakistan should not fight others' war as it is an independent and sovereign state. "We do not want war or fight with any one rather we desire that Pakistan sovereignty and interests should be respected." "In-spite of 35000 human and $70 billion economic' losses in war against terror," the government is still following the US policy. He said the US and its allies had violated international human rights laws and mandate of UN Security Council (UNSC) on a number of occasions and the recent attack on security check posts in Mohmand Agency by US and NATO forces have cleared proof of it that had created widespread hatred among people. He expressed the hope that new terms of engagements with US would be based on mutual equality, respects and reflections of aspirations and wishes of masses. Referring to last nine years of cooperation with US in war against terror, the JUI-F Chief said each Pakistani has received only $2 per year against about $4 to $ 5 billion foreign aid received during this period. The JUI-F leader said his party's struggle was not for the government but for supremacy of Islam, rights of people, establishment of peace and addressing challenges faced by the country's today. He said his party will continue Jihad against corruption and favoritism. He said popularity graph of his party has increased manifolds in Mardan and will get overwhelming majority in upcoming general elections from there. Rehman, whose party is a part of the PPP-led ruling coalition in Balochistan, said, "The incumbent rulers cannot make bold decisions, and neither can they change the country's foreign policy because both PPP and PML-N cannot stand up to the United States." He promised that, if voted into power, his party would change the 'pro-America foreign policy' of the country. The JUI-F chief said Pakistan was faced with a number of crises and only a sincere leadership could steer the country out. To distance his party from the Taliban, the JUI-F chief said that they're opposed to an armed struggle for the enforcement of Islamic Sharia in the country. "We condemn the destruction of schools - but other people (secularists) should also condemn terrorism perpetuated by the US and its NATO allies in Afghanistan where they're killing innocent Afghan youths," he said.