April 21, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 03, 1428

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QUETTA, April 20: Federal Minister for Communications Shamim Siddiqui has urged progressive forces to forge unity on single agenda of ‘liberalism’ and warned that a freehand to jihadi groups would tarnish the image of the country at the international level.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, the minister said that Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s rally in Karachi on April 15 was a clear message to the religious extremists that people of Sindh were liberal and they would never accept fanaticism.

Mr Siddiqui criticised the clerics of Lal Masjid and said that progressive and democratic forces would not allow religious extremists or jihadi groups to impose their own model of Islam.

The federal minister said the the unrealistic approach of ulema of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa for imposing their particular type of injunctions would not only derail the ongoing development activities in the country but would also affect foreign investment.

“Liberal and democratic parties should come forward and lead the masses to the path of progress and development,” he said.

Mr Siddiqui said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain had invited all liberal political leaders, intellectuals and writers to wage a joint struggle against religious extremists and uphold the principles of the founder of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

He did not agree with a questioner that the Lal Masjid issue was flared up by intelligence agencies to harm the lawyers’ movement against the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

About MQM’s response to the military operation in Balochistan that killed Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, the federal minister said that his party had sought a permission to visit Dera Bugti to ascertain the factual position but the request was denied by tribesmen.

In reply to a query about MQM’s silence over military operation in Waziristan, Mr Siddiqui said that action was taken against foreigners. However, he made it clear that the MQM condemned extra-constitutional actions against people in any part of the country.

He claimed that his party was not part of the establishment, adding that the MQM enjoyed the backing of masses.

BILLING SERVICE: The minister inaugurated a round-the-clock utility billing service for customers at the General Post Office, Quetta, APP adds.

Balochistan Postmaster General Agha Anwar Gul briefed the minister about the performance of his department and its future requirements.