LAHORE, July 10: The MMA has emphasized the need for sending a parliamentary delegation to Quetta to show solidarity with the families of those who were martyred or wounded in the attack on an Imambargah last Friday.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, MMA deputy secretary-general Liaquat Baloch said the prime minister and the National Assembly speaker should play their due role in this regard.

Pir Ijaz Hashmi, Allama Sibtain Kazmi, Riaz Durrani and Fareed Piracha were also present on the occasion.

Mr Baloch said that as decided during the all parties’ conference on Sunday, a protest day would be observed on Friday (today) against the Quetta incident, which, he claimed, was an Indo-US conspiracy against the country’s integrity and sovereignty.

Peaceful demonstrations would be organized and resolutions adopted in mosques across the country to condemn the incident.

He regretted that law-enforcement agencies of the country had failed to break the network of terrorists. “All this is happening because the institutions responsible for security of the country were involved in politics and not discharging their duties.”

He alleged that the recent acts of terrorism in Balochistan were aimed at preparing the ground for a clash with Iran.

He said that Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali must put an end to political bitterness in the country for the sake of stability. “International conspiracies cannot be countered unless and until the internal front is not secure.”

Referring to the Musharraf-Bush meeting at Camp David, he said the secret talks posed a threat to the country. He warned the US authorities that the masses and their elected institutions would not be responsible for honouring the commitments unilaterally made by Gen Musharraf.

He categorically announced that the Pakistan Army would not be allowed to go to Iraq while nuclear assets would also be protected at all costs.

He asked the rulers to put an end to the rhetoric about existence of over a dozen solutions to the Kashmir issue and announce in clear terms that the Line of Control would not be accepted as an international border.

He said the joint opposition had accepted the talks offer in view of the threats being faced by the country. “We have given the government a chance to end the deadlock and solve the constitutional crisis.”

Warning the government that the situation might slip out of its hands due to its “uncalled for” intransigence, he emphasized the need for making the dialogue meaningful as attempts to gain time would only increase the bitterness in political arena.