PESHAWAR, July 22: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Friday criticized President Gen Pervez Musharraf for what he called his pro-US policies. In his Friday sermon here at Al-Markaz-i-Islami, the JI leader criticized President Musharraf’s address to the nation telecast on Thursday evening. He said that Gen Musharraf on the directives of the US wanted to put an end to the Islamic teachings and silence every voice raised for the right cause of the Muslims.

“President Musharraf subjected around 60 female students of a religious madressah in Islamabad to severe torture which was a highly regrettable act,” he said.

He accused President Musharraf and his government of displaying terrorism just to placate the US.

He alleged that Muslim rulers had not only recognized American occupation over Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq but also facilitated it to strengthen its hold over it.

“Gen Musharraf wants to make Pakistan a secular and a subsidiary country of India to please his American masters, but we will not allow him to do so,” he said.

The JI chief said if the central government had any reservations over the registration of madressahs, then it should take up the issue with the five Wafaqul Madaris.

He condemned the army operation in the North Waziristan Agency and said that there were neither any foreigners nor any terrorists there, but President Musharraf on the directives of the US wanted to create mistrust between tribesmen and the army.

“The American forces’ killing of tribesmen from across the border is a challenge for the honour of the army,” he said.