LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami secretary general Liaquat Baloch says there is no difference of opinion on the issue of martyrdom of civilians and personnel of security forces in the ‘war on terror’.

“There are no two opinions on the issue of martyrdom of the military personnel,” he said while replying to journalists’ questions after a seminar at the JI’s headquarters on Tuesday.

He said that when a political and democratic government was functioning in the country, the armed forces and their public relations wing ISPR had no right to serve a notice on the head of a political party or to issue a press release. This act, he added, was a violation of the constitution.

“If the army had any concern over the issue it should have taken up the matter with the Ministry of Defence rather than directly seeking an explanation from the JI chief.”

Mr Baloch said the JI had not written any letter so far to the government or the prime minister against the ISPR press release.

He said the US was trying to provide a legal cover to drone attacks despite being aware of the Pakistani nation’s unanimous demand for ending them.

He said former military dictator Pervez Musharraf, who had surrendered to the United States on a phone call, was responsible for the entire situation.

Mr Baloch said the political and religious parties had a right to criticise his party. The nation was aware of its views about the armed forces and their institutions, he said.

“The JI had consistently maintained that the US was at war with Islam and the Muslims after 9/11 and it was not lawful for any Muslim country to support this war in any way. The JI had consistently held this view and time and developments have vindicated its stance,” he said.

Mr Baloch said the JI was firm on its principled stance and would not yield to pressure. The rulers, he said, had chosen a wrong path which had led to dreadful results for the nation. It is the time for the policy-makers to review their policies that have ruined the country and the nation.

He said the whole scenario would change if the government stopped the Nato supplies and drone attacks.