PESHAWAR, Oct 6: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected the formation of a broad- based government in Afghanistan, to replace Taliban with some old guards headed by the former king Zahir Shah having the blessing of the US.

Taliban, who came into power in 1996, were offered all out support by the JUI chief, if the US and its allies strike at their country.

He  proposed formation of an  independent  international commission to hold inquiry into the Sept 11 suicide attacks in New York and Washington and punish the culprits involved in it.

He said without any concrete proof involving Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden in the incident was unfair on the part of the US. The proposed commission, he said, must be freed from all pressure, otherwise they would not accept any puppet commission.

Addressing a  public rally in Peshawar on Saturday at Kabuli Chowk, linking Qissa Khwani and Khyber Bazaar, he lashed out at the local players making the situation worse in the region.

The rally was organised to condemn the expected US-led military alliance against Afghanistan. Thousands of JUI activists marched up to the historic Yadgar Chowk and set ablaze effigies of the US president and UK prime minister and US flag.

The protesters, carrying portraits of Osama, placards and party flags, chanted slogans against the US and UK for their alleged threat of attack on Afghanistan.

The rally organisers planned to march towards the Governor’s House and a demonstration on G. T. Road, but police did not allow them to walk ahead of the Yadgar Chowk. Heavy contingents of police erected hurdles at Chowk Yadgar to confine the movement of demonstrators. The rally affected the city’s business. The main bazaar and shopping streets remained closed till late noon.

Addressing the protesters, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the US had planned to replace Taliban government with the self- exiled king, Mohammad Zahir Shah. The former monarch, he said, had  no future in Afghanistan, because he (Shah) had  no contribution in the war against former Soviet troops.

He said the broad-based government formula had been tested for many times, but did not serve any meaningful purpose to bring an end to the miseries of the Afghan nation. He said the Taliban were enjoying public support and US could not succeed to create rift among the ruling militia.

Rejecting the US evidence against the Taliban and Osama, he said the charges were totally baseless and the  American intelligence agencies had no credibility.

The JUI chief warned the US not to play with fire and give up its plan against war-ravaged Afghanistan.

He directed his party activists to prepare themselves for a war against the imperialist forces. “Chase the US war planes when and where you find them,” the Maulana asked his workers, adding to target the US installations in the country.

Castigating government’s policy  for providing intelligence facilities to the US, he called upon the government to review its policy. He said armed forces should learn lesson from Bangladesh and support the masses.

He directed the organisers to prepare lists of the activists who would voluntarily take part in war against the US.