ISLAMABAD, March 20: The central leader of Jamaat Islami, Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmad, has expressed his strong apprehension about Colin Powell's suggestion to give Pakistan a Non-Nato Ally status.

Prof Khurshid observed that it would tantamount to surrendering our independence, which would be worst than the Cento and Seato pacts of the cold war era. In a statement here on Friday, he said people of the world were rising against the hegemonic attitude of the US.

"The latest opinion polls show that hatred against American is spiralling in the world whether they are Muslim countries, Europe or South America." He said the recent elections of Spain were a referendum against the rulers tying to the apron string of America.

"Pakistan's present military leadership has no right to enter into any such arrangement with America and alienate Pakistan from the world and our best allies like China and Muslim countries," he maintained.