01 March 2004	Monday	09 Muharram 1425

VEHARI, Feb 29: Jamaat-i-Islami secretary-general Syed Munawar Hasan has said that the army operation in tribal areas might pave the way for US intervention in Pakistan.

He was speaking at a convention of workers from Vehari, Burewala and Mailsi here on Sunday. He said that government's Afghan policy had already made the western borders insecure and now an unnecessary operation was being carried out in the tribal areas.

He condemned the killing of 13 tribesmen by security forces in Wana. He said those responsible must be meted out exemplary punishment. Mr Hasan said the Ummat was being targeted to destroy its emerging power while our leaders were cracking down on their own people on the dictates of Western countries.

He claimed that the rulers could neither tackle a crisis nor defend the frontiers. Country's security could only be ensured by unity, he maintained. He said despite being a front-line state in the so-called war on terrorism, Pakistan's nuclear programme and unity were under threat due to the allegations unleashed by Western powers.

He said the MMA had skill fully steered the country out of a constitutional crisis, but the opportunist leaders were targeting its components. This, however, would not deter the alliance from continuing its struggle against feudalism and other exploitative elements in the society, he said.

Local MMA leaders Haji Tufail Warraich, Rao Khalil Ahmed, Chaudhry Masood, Engineer Rafiq and Shakil Ahmed Raza also spoke on the occasion. Mr Hasan later inaugurated a computer lab at Jamia Islamia Jadidia in Faisal Town, Vehari.