KARACHI: MMA appeals for complete shutdown: ‘Country’s survival at stake’
KARACHI, Aug 31: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Thursday appealed to people to observe a complete but peaceful strike on Friday against the killing of Jamhoori Watan Party leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, amendments to the Hudood Ordinance and continued detention of Dr. A.Q. Khan.
“Killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti was a cowardly act and a bid to disintegrate the country whereas Dr A.Q. Khan’s detention and amendments to the Hudood Ordinance are aimed at pleasing the US and the West,” senior MMA leader and Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Prof Ghafoor Ahmed told a news conference at the JI office, Idara Noor-i-Haq, here on Thursday.
Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui of JI, Aslam Ghauri of JUI, Shabir Abu Talib of JUP, Nazir Abbas Naqvi of PIT and other MMA leaders also spoke at the press conference.
Prof Ghafoor said that an overwhelming majority of Pakistani people was against the government’s pro-US policies which must be opposed tooth and nail by masses. To express rejection of these policies, people should join in the Friday strike by observing a shutter-down and wheel-jam peacefully, he added.“Military dictators have always harmed the country’s interests and jeopardized its integrity and security. The present military regime committed extra-judicial killing of Nawab Bugti, and offended and shocked the entire nation.”
He said Dr A.Q. Khan was the person who not only ensured safety and security of Pakistan and Pakistanis but also provided deterrent to the army against any Indian aggression. However, he added, instead of acknowledging his services, the rulers had been keeping him in solitary confinement as if he was a criminal.
“First Dr A.Q. Khan was removed from his office and then confined to his house to appease the US and the West. Now when he has become a cancer patient, his family is not being allowed meet him” the JI leader said, condemning the government for not heeding calls from entire nation for his release.
Prof Ghafoor also deplored that by tabling a bill on women rights, again to appease the West, the government had divide the nation.
“Nawab Bugti’s assassination at the hands of army has created hatred against army and exposed people of Punjab to the wrath of the aggrieved as their houses and commercial concerns were coming under attack.”Describing this as ‘a pre-planned conspiracy aimed at disintegrating Pakistan’, Prof Ghafoor said that the people of Pakistan would not allow conspirators to succeed in their nefarious designs.
Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui said that the military government was bent upon creating a 1971-like situation by causing harm once again to the country’s integrity and the harmony among people.
The JI leader said that transporters, businessmen, students and all other segments of the society had assured the opposition of their full support to the strike call for Friday, and warned the government not to resort to any action that could create a law and order situation.—PPI
