October 13, 2001	Saturday	Rajab 25, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

MINGORA, Oct 12: All Swat Hotels Association (Asha) has urged the government to claim damages from the United States and its allies for paralyzing the hotel and tourism industries of Pakistan through their attacks on Afghanistan.

The appeal came at a meeting of Asha held here on Friday with its president Al Haj Zahid Khan in the chair.

The participants noted with concern that the US attacks on Afghanistan had forced all foreigners to leave the country, particularly the NWFP, striking a severe blow to the hotel business in Swat.

The government should sue the United States and its allies for the loss incurred on its economy, Mr Zahid said.

He also called upon the government to exempt the hoteliers from the payment of the utility bills, for they were unable to pay the bills and even salaries to their employees owing to the prevailing circumstances.

JUI: Leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam have condemned America and it allies for their anti-Muslim campaign and termed it a well-orchestrated conspiracy against Islam.

Speaking at a gathering on Friday, the district Amir of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Qari Abdul Baais, lamented that Muslims were being targeted all over the world for no fault of theirs.

Osama bin Laden, he said, was being targeted by the US because he had raised his voice for the security of Muslims, he added.

Maulana Abdur Rauf, Qari Mian Samiur Rehman, and Maulana Rasheed Ahmad also spoke.

DISALLOWED: Law enforcement agencies restrained thousands of people at exit points in different districts of the Malakand division, disallowing them to attend a public meeting in Peshawar.

The people, mainly workers of various religious parties and groups, went back after some time. On their way back, they raised anti-American slogans.