January 2, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 28, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 1: Military governments in Pakistan have consolidated the role of the US and international financial institutions (IFIs) in state affairs, which poses a constant threat to country’s sovereignty.

These views were expressed by the speakers during a protest march, which was organised by the People’s Rights Movement (PRM) against the possible US attack on Iraq.

A large number of people, including political figures, participated in the rally, which started from Naz Cinema Chowk, at 2pm and ended at the Committee Chowk at 4pm after passing through Kohati Bazaar, Jamia Masjid, Urdu Bazaar, Board Bazaar and Iqbal Road.

The participants chanted slogans against the US imperialism. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the planned US attack on Iraq and its exploitative policies all over the world.

The participants demanded of the world leaders to pressurise the US not to disturb the peace in the Middle East for its vested interest in the region.

They were also of the view that Iraq had provided unfettered access to its weapon sites and was fully complying with the UN Security Council’s resolutions, but the US was determined to oust Sadam Hussain at any price.

The PRM chairman, Asim Sajjad, said owing to the undemocratic and corrupt elements in the country, the US government, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank had became more and more influential in the country over the years and it would be naive to claim that Pakistan was sovereign in decision-making.

He said the US unilateralism threatened the world at an unprecedented scale. The bombing of Afghanistan is likely to be outdone by a full-scale war and invasion of Iraq, he added.

The chairman maintained that the US continued to act in a hegemonic manner, whether in the form of international agreements on environment, trade negotiation, genocide in Palestine or in terms of so-called war on terrorism.

“After implementation of democracy in the country, we must resist the growing influences of the IFIs to block the way of US imperialism.”

He said military should be removed from the country’s political scene once and for all.