LAHORE, Oct 25: Punjab leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) alleged on Thursday that the United nations had allowed itself to be held hostage to some major powers. As a result, they said, the organization set up for the resolution of international disputes had lost its credibility.

In a statement issued after a media committee meeting here on Thursday, they said the UN member states should review the role of the world organization and try to ensure that the platform was not used by some members for individual or group interests.

The PML(QA) supports the government’s policy on Afghanistan but seems to be distancing itself from it on certain matters. Only a day ago, a central leader of the party had demanded opening of border with Afghanistan to allow refugees to cross over to Pakistan.

The Thursday statement alleged that in its campaign against terrorism the UN had departed from its charter. It said innocent people were being killed in Afghanistan.

“The UN should play an effective role for the preservation of human rights or it would become irrelevant and ineffective,” the statement said

It said the UN resolutions on Kashmir and Palestine, pending since long, should be implemented as enthusiastically as those on East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It said the UN had been set up to save the world from wars. It was regrettable that it had failed to accomplish the goal.

The statement condemned the killing of Afghan people, women and children in particular, and bombardment of the sacred places.

Syed Tabish Alvari presided over the meeting.