February 24, 2006	Friday	Muharram 25, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Feb 23: Pakistan Muslim League Central Vice- President Syed Kabir Ali Wasti has criticized the opposition for rejecting the government’s invitation to hold a protest against blasphemous cartoons by a joint parliamentary delegation in Brussels.

In a statement, Mr Wasti, who is also chairman of the party’s media committee, said it was a good gesture of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to send a joint parliamentary delegation to Brussels, as it manifested national unity.

He, however, deplored that the opposition did not respond positively and declined to become part of the delegation. The refusal exposed political agenda of the opposition which, he said, believed in opposition for the sake of opposition.

The PML leader recalled that the government had lodged a protest against blasphemous cartoons officially much before and called back its ambassador from Denmark.

He said peaceful protest was the nation’s right, adding that PML workers were also protesting on the issue. He, however, said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal was advancing its political agenda. It was evident from the attacks on foreign banks, hotels and telephone companies during demonstrations, he added.

He said such acts had badly damaged efforts of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to attract foreign investment.

Mr Wasti said by giving a countrywide call for protest on the arrival of US President George W. Bush, the MMA was isolating the country and helping India.

He said Pakistan’s enemies had been dubbing it as failed state and labelling our people as violent. He said indulging in violence during protests was an act of proving such charges.

Pakistan cannot afford to sever its ties with the whole world. Rather there is need to lodge joint protest against blasphemous cartoons.

The PML leader called for immediate release of all arrested legislators and political workers including MNAs Hanif Abbassi, Zammurrad Khan, Mian Aslam, Saad Rafiq, Javed Hashmi and former NA speaker Yousuf Raza Gilani.