LAHORE, Dec 31: President Pervez Musharraf is vitiating the political atmosphere of the country by putting behind the bars leaders of political and religious parties under pressure from the US and India, the Jamaat-i-Islami says. The party’s acting amir Syed Munawwar Hasan said in a press statement here on Monday that the arrest of various leaders, including Qazi Husain Ahmed, on the pretext of the enforcement of the UN resolutions would weaken national unity. He said the president should keep in mind that his desire notwithstanding, peace and friendship with India would not be achieved without justice.

He said India had the blood of some 70,000 Kashmiris on its hands and it was not giving the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination despite the UN resolutions. Referring to reports that there were allegations against Qazi Husain Ahmed, the JI leader said if so, the president should produce the proof before a court of law without any delay.

He said the JI had stood on the side of the armed forces in all difficult situations in the past and would do the same now.