ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: Jamaat-i-Islami leaders said on Sunday that an army operation in North Waziristan would serve to unleash terrorist attacks across the country.

Addressing party workers at a sit-in near the Parliament House, they said that if the army agreed to launch an operation in North Waziristan it would be asked by the US to launch similar operations in southern Punjab on the pretext of “presence of extremists in the area”.

JI Amir Syed Munawar Hassan warned that any such adventurism would result in disastrous consequences by producing Taliban in each and every part of the country.

Though the sit-in was organised in protest against price hike and corruption, the speeches made on the occasion mostly remained focused on issues relating to the ongoing war against terrorism and the country's foreign policy with particular reference to alleged US interference in domestic affairs.

“Those waging war against invading forces either in Afghanistan, Iraq or against drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas cannot be declared terrorists. They are our brothers and if they are terrorists, then we all are terrorists,” the JI chief announced amid slogans by hundreds of party activists who mostly arrived from areas adjacent to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Mr Hassan urged the government to hold negotiations with Taliban, instead of using force against them. “How long will they continue military operations when the past such adventures have proved futile? We oppose any possible military operation in North Waziristan, and the government should negotiate with Taliban for finding out peaceful solution,” he said.

He said it was high time to wage struggle for the establishment of a true Islamic state in the country as the incumbent rulers had proved to be totally inefficient and helpless. “This is height of helplessness on part of the PPP-led government that so far killers of Benazir Bhutto have not been exposed,” he said.

Mr Hassan said the parliament was not working properly as the policies were being made outside. He criticised the government's foreign policy and said the present rulers were following the policies of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. He said uncontrolled drone attacks in tribal areas by the US were an ample proof of failure of the foreign policy.

The JI chief lashed out at Punjab Governor Salman Taseer for advocating amendments in the blasphemy law.

Former JI Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmed supported Mujahideen in Iraq for fighting the invading forces and asked the Pakistan government to support Jihadi groups in Afghanistan as well as in the country.

“Remember that Taliban are fighting against nobody but America and Nato forces. Then how should we call them terrorists. They are in fact guardians of national sovereignty,” Mr Hussain added.

The Pakistan Army accused of taking dictation from the US and the speakers asked Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to inform the general public about achievements made in the war against terrorism.

“Generals and politicians have become slaves (to the US)”, said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, adding that the US secret diplomacy had exposed its real face.

Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, and Amna Masood Janjua, a representative of families of missing persons also spoke on the occasion.