ISLAMABAD Feb 5: President of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmed on Saturday accused General Musharraf of being on a mission to crush Islamist forces in the country under dictation from the United States.

Speaking at two Kashmir rallies - one under the aegis of MMA and the other under the auspices of Jamaat-i-Dawa - in Aabpara here, Qazi said Musharraf had volunteered to serve American interests and had thus become the "root cause of all ills".

He regretted that while on the one hand the rulers were claiming to be observing a solidarity day with the Kashmiri people, on the other hand they were celebrating 'Basant' with Indian actors and singers.

He ruled out any friendship with India as long as Kashmir was not freed of foreign occupation and subjugation. He warned that the US will never support Pakistan at cost of its friendship with India.

The MMA chief declared that as long as mujahideen were alive, jihad will continue to flourish and achieve its objectives in Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He recited some couplets from Allama Iqbal's poetry supporting jihad in foreign-occupied Muslim states and said the day was not far off when Islamic jihad would meet its goal and Islamic glory would prevail in the world.

He also recited verses from the Holy Quran which bind Muslims to wage armed struggle against coercion and foreign occupation.

He said Kashmir was the unfinished agenda of 1947 partition of India and the people of Kashmir "will continue to get our support in their just struggle for freedom".

He said: "God forbid, if Pakistan's Islamic character was tarnished or altered, it will weaken the very foundation of the nation, something the people of Pakistan will never allow to happen."

He said that people in the garb of politicians, whose forefathers had won 'jagirs' by licking English rulers' boots, were today supporting the army generals in Pakistan. He alleged that the changes in educational syllabus were being introduced under an American plan to end the spirit of jihad from the Muslim Ummah.

He called for a concerted struggle to get Pakistan army out of the American influence and make it a true Islamic force.

He accused army generals and some politicians of securing more and more plots and amassing wealth through exploitation of people.

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.