KARACHI, Aug 25: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has reaffirmed its resolved to strongly resist the plan to send Pakistani troops to Iraq saying that it reserved the right to organize protests in every nook and corner of the country against any arbitrary decision in this regard.

Speaking at a protest demonstration, several MMA leaders claimed that the government’s plan did not have popular support.

The demonstration was organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami, a major component of the conglomerate, in front of the Karachi Press Club on Monday. Among those who addressed the demonstrators were Allama Hasan Turabi, Maulana Omar Sadiq, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui and Shamim Pasha.

Allama Hasan Turabi warned the government that any decision to send Pakistani troops to Iraq might create a gulf between the armed forces and people of Pakistan as public was absolutely not in favour of the plan. He said that the move might also undermine the prestige of the armed forces.

The unfair, unilateral and autocratic decision, he added, would encourage the forces inimical to the solidarity and fraternity of Islamic countries as their sole objective was to use Pakistani forces for ulterior motives against the oppressed people of Iraq.

Allama Turabi dubbed the US as ‘No.1 enemy of Muslims’ and said that it was desperately conspiring to pit Muslims against Muslims around the world. However, he added, Washington will never succeed in fulfilling its desire as the Ummah stood united against all such plots.

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, in his speech, referred to a report carried by certain newspapers that at a women rally in Iraq, it was revealed that at least 400 Iraqi women had been kidnapped since the invasion of that country by the occupation forces.

Muslim women are subjected to violence, torture, kidnapping and other such brutalities in Iraq, he observed and deplored the indifferent attitude of the international human rights organizations in this regard. This precarious situation, he astonished, had failed to evoke their conscience and they continued to watch the whole affair silently.

While Iraqi women continue to suffer, the Pakistani rulers, ignoring the humiliation, are busy pursuing measures to appease Washington only in order to perpetuate their rule. The ruling clique’s measures, he warned, would ultimately spell a critical situation at home.

Maulana Omar Sadiq recalled that ulema had, on Aug 14, announced a decree (Fatwa) against the sending of Pakistani troops to Iraq. He pointed out that protest rallies on a large scale were being staged in every nook and corner of the country which reflected the feelings of the masses.

He warned the rulers of a strong reaction by the masses if the ruling clique went against their aspirations.

Shamim Pasha blamed the US government for hatching conspiracies to perpetuate its hold on Iraq in order to devour its vast oil reserves.—PPI