KARACHI, Jan 16: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Monday reacted strongly to the remarks by US Senators John McCain who has reportedly defended US missile attack on Damadola in Bajour Agency that left 18 innocent people dead.
MNAs Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, Abdul Sattar Afghani and Mohammad Laeeq Khan of MMA, in a joint statement, observed that instead of apologizing to the Pakistani government and nation for the acts of terrorism against innocent villagers, US senators were hurling threats of more such strikes.
The Republican Senator, John McCain, had told a private TV channel on Sunday that there were no guarantees that such operation could not be repeated.
They said that Gen Pervez Musharraf’s silence, and the ‘reward’ the US had given to Pakistan for supporting it as an ally, were condemnable.
“US aircraft violated Pakistani airspace range up to 50 kilometres but it took the government 24 hours to know that such an incident had taken place,” they wondered, and said that this lapse had exposed the defence mechanism of Pakistan’s armed forces.
They deplored that the same armed forces were actively engaged in military operations against their own countrymen.
MMA leaders said that the US attitude, after the air space violation and missile attack, was an evidence that it had no respect for Pakistan or any of its institutions. “Washington is trying to impose its will on the peaceful nations of the world and thus had become a threat to all free nations.”
They asked the government to raise the issue at the UN Security Council.
They also demanded that a joint session of parliament be summoned immediately to discuss the armed forces’ defence capabilities.
POL prices: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Monday strongly condemned the government for not lowering down the prices of petroleum products despite a decrease in international market and urged the government to immediately bring down prices of petroleum products.
In a joint statement, MMA MPAs Nasarullah Shajee, Hameedullah Khan and Younus Barai said currently the price of crude oil was 52 US$ per barrel after touching 70 US$ per barrel, but the government was reluctant to pass on the benefit to masses, which was highly condemnable.
Quoting an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, they said price-hike and inflation were the major cause of economic recess in the country, but the government was engaged in purchasing new planes and constructing new GHQ with billions of dollars.
MMA leaders said as all the government functionaries travel in vehicles purchased with public money while their fuel is also the responsibility of the state, they feel no impact of price-hike and take no pain in considering any relief for masses.
They demanded of the government to immediately bring down taxes and surcharges on fuel.—PPI
