October 19, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 6, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 18: Jamaat-i-Islami naib amir Liaquat Baloch has said Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s return will not affect the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal or the APDM, but would certainly be detrimental to the politics of the ruling coalition.

Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, he said Benazir Bhutto had the right to return to Pakistan and take part in politics, but she had ended her self-exile with the blessings of the US and military dictator instead of any political or democratic struggle. People had seen the difference between the treatment meted out to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, he said.

The government and the MQM were cooperating with her because her return was conciliatory.

He said the former premier had no right to talk about democracy because she had joined the camp of Gen Pervez Musharraf. The stand taken by her about ulema, religious parties and mujahideen was shameful, he said, adding that sacrifice of national priorities for power would be harmful to the PPP.

Baloch said the people had rejected the National Reconciliation Ordinance promulgated for legalising corruption. He said the country was facing crisis due to the policies of Gen Pervez Musharraf. Conditions in South Waziristan were worsening and the identity of the armed forces was being questioned due to the game being played by the imperialist powers, he regretted.

SAJID MIR: Markazi Jamiat-i-Ahle Hadith President Prof Sajid Mir has said that the United States support for Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto is a bad omen for the nation.

Prof Mir said Ms Bhutto was speaking against terrorism and extremism to push the US agenda which Gen Pervez Musharraf had failed to achieve. He said a real opposition did not exist to counter Gen Musharraf and Ms Bhutto. The Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and right-wing forces in the All Pakistan Democratic Movement would have to unite to face them.

He said the PML-Q was not in a position to win elections under the patronage of Gen Musharraf. It would have to end differences with PML-Nawaz leader Mian Nawaz Sharif and accept him as its leader, he said. The Chaudhry Brothers would also have to accept the ground realities and change their attitude, he added.