January 06, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 26, 1428

BANNU, Jan, 5: The chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has alleged that rulers are trying to create a war-like situation in Waziristan, Swat and other parts of the county to please their American masters.

Speaking at a public meeting at the sports complex on Saturday, the JUI leader said that the reports of attacks on him were just rumours spread by the government’s quarters to create panic.

Maulana Fazl said that the United States and its European allies had imposed an undeclared war on the ummah. He said at this critical time when the whole world was afraid of America’s material strength, only the ulema had accepted the challenge.

He said western powers were trying to defame Islam by launching propaganda against it and Muslims were being portrayed as terrorists. But, he said, the five-year tenure of the religious parties’ government in the NWFP had proved that Muslims were peace loving and did not believe in terrorism.

The JUI chief said that the US on the pretext of war against terror wanted to occupy resources of the Muslim countries.

Criticising the philosophy of enlightened moderation, he said the actions of Muslim rulers were defaming Islam and its followers.

He said the MMA had raised its voice in parliament against the passage of what he called ‘un-Islamic laws’ such as women rights bill and changes in curricula.

Maulana Fazl said the MMA leadership had introduced a system of check and balance to make the governance transparent. The ulema, he said, had proved that they could provide an effective mechanism for running the government affairs.

He said the character assassination of ulema and propaganda against the religious parties and its leadership was on top of the agenda of the government. However, he hoped that the people on the polling day would foil the designs of these elements and the candidates of the religious parities would win with majority.

He promised that after coming to power they w0ould work for the independence of the judiciary.

The JUI leader called upon people to come forward and join the camp of the ulema to steer the country out of the crisis.