September 12, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 11, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 11: If Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is sincere in defending the country against Nato attacks, he should put an immediate end to ongoing military operation in the tribal areas, says Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad.

Gen Kayani should make it clear to Washington that Islamabad could no more kill its own citizens, stated the Jamaat leader in a press release on Thursday.

He regretted that the tribal belt was under army siege and incessant air and land attacks, while all aid activities were halted. “The people allege that the army wants them to die of hunger and for want of medicines,” he said.

Rejecting the justification for conducting army operation in tribal areas that “if we don't do it then Americans will”, he said the excuse was even more ‘shameful and dangerous’.

He also criticised PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari for holding his maiden press conference as country’s president in the presence of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The step, he said, gave the impression that he was ready to become a Karzai-like stooge of America.

He said the country was facing a danger of ‘civilian dictatorship’ because it was practically being run under presidential form of government.

He said if Mr Zardari intended to run the affairs with stick, he should remember that army had even bigger stick (but eventually it failed to deliver).

Ahmad said the present government should complete its term otherwise democracy would not take firm roots in the country.

The Jamaat leader deplored that the PPP was conspiring against the Punjab government of PML-N through the governor, and warned that it would be dangerous for the cause of democracy.

He saw no worth of the country's present judicial setup for nobody had confidence in it.