September 13, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 12: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Husain Ahmad has asked the army to retaliate against border violations by Nato forces despite a warning and the killing of 12 people in tribal areas.

Condemning an attack by US drones in North Waziristan, at a Friday congregation at Mansoora, the Qazi said time had come for the armed forces to prove they were sincere in their announcements in respect of the defence of the borders.

He said the operation in tribal areas should be stopped and the army should stop fighting its own people.

There was no justification for continuing the so-called ‘war on terror’ after threats by the US army chief to strike inside Pakistan.

He stressed the need for a debate on ‘war on terror’, Kashmir and other national issues in the parliament instead of taking important decisions outside it.

He said the country needed a courageous leadership to deal with internal and external threats. All religious and political parties should sink their differences and forge unity to counter US threats to national sovereignty.

The JI chief said the government should end the ‘war on terror’ and President Asif Ali Zardari should visit China before going to Britain to counter American aggression. He said the Awami National Party claimed to be championing the cause of Pakhtuns, but was silent on bloodshed by Nato forces in Waziristan.