06 February 2005	Sunday	26 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD Feb 5: President of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmed on Saturday accused General Musharraf of being on a mission to crush Islamist forces in the country under dictation from the United States.

Speaking at two Kashmir rallies - one under the aegis of MMA and the other under the auspices of Jamaat-i-Dawa - in Aabpara here, Qazi said Musharraf had volunteered to serve American interests and had thus become the "root cause of all ills".

He regretted that while on the one hand the rulers were claiming to be observing a solidarity day with the Kashmiri people, on the other hand they were celebrating 'Basant' with Indian actors and singers.

He ruled out any friendship with India as long as Kashmir was not freed of foreign occupation and subjugation. He warned that the US will never support Pakistan at cost of its friendship with India.

The MMA chief declared that as long as mujahideen were alive, jihad will continue to flourish and achieve its objectives in Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He recited some couplets from Allama Iqbal's poetry supporting jihad in foreign-occupied Muslim states and said the day was not far off when Islamic jihad would meet its goal and Islamic glory would prevail in the world.

He also recited verses from the Holy Quran which bind Muslims to wage armed struggle against coercion and foreign occupation.

He said Kashmir was the unfinished agenda of 1947 partition of India and the people of Kashmir "will continue to get our support in their just struggle for freedom".

He said: "God forbid, if Pakistan's Islamic character was tarnished or altered, it will weaken the very foundation of the nation, something the people of Pakistan will never allow to happen."

He said that people in the garb of politicians, whose forefathers had won 'jagirs' by licking English rulers' boots, were today supporting the army generals in Pakistan. He alleged that the changes in educational syllabus were being introduced under an American plan to end the spirit of jihad from the Muslim Ummah.

He called for a concerted struggle to get Pakistan army out of the American influence and make it a true Islamic force.

He accused army generals and some politicians of securing more and more plots and amassing wealth through exploitation of people.