KARACHI, March 26: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Secretary General of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, has said that the US-UK invasion of Iraq is not a crusade but a war between the oppressors and oppressed.

Responding to newsmen’s queries at the ‘Meet the Press’ programme at Karachi Press Club here on Wednesday, the MMA leader observed that the victim of the US-led forces’ onslaught was not Iraq alone but the entire humanity. “The US stands isolated in its aggressive campaign as the world has refused to lend it any support.” He appealed to all the Arab countries to stop oil supply to the US and Britain as a measure to use oil as weapon.

Referring to the worldwide massive rallies against the US aggression, he pointed out that even the Europeans and European Union had come out with opposition to the illegitimate attack. He pointed out that present situation had become absolutely different from what was after 9/11 event.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman observed that Euro was emerging stronger against the US dollar and the British sterling in the world market and that the Christian community had also lined up against the United States.

He said that religious parties’ strategy not to stage massive and frequent anti-US rallies was aimed at preventing Washington from using the united religious forces as a ploy to blackmail Europe. However, he added, after massive demonstrations throughout the world on Feb 25, the MMA gave a call for million march which registered a record turnout.

The Maulana said that the million march events in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi were reflective of the aspirations and sentiments of the people of Pakistan who rejected the US-led invasion of Iraq.

He deplored that the government had a different view about the US policy and regretted that the recent National Assembly session was prorogued only to prevent the legislators from adopting a resolution aimed at condemning the United States for invading Iraq.

Rejecting the government’s stand that war had affected the national economy adversely, he alleged that Islamabad was not in a position to uphold the truth boldly and advised the businessman community not to be deceived by such misleading statements. He appealed to the community to ensure stability in prices of essential commodities and other goods.

The JUI chief urged people not to celebrate ‘Spring festival’ in view of the war in Iraq where “history of Karbala was being rewritten.”

Instead of still remaining a silent spectator, he said, the United Nations must move now to force the US stop aggression.

He said that Iraq’s oil belonged to Iraqis and their irrevocable right on their own wealth must be recognized.

Tracing history of the United States, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that it always considered use of force essential to establish its supremacy on other countries. It was the US which dropped nuclear bombs on Japanese people, ravaged Vietnam with bombs, struck Libya, Cuba, Iran, Afghanistan, Bosnia and other sovereign states with deadly weapons and spared no part of the world from military action.

He urged the world community in general and potential powers — Russia, France, Germany and China — in particular to openly provide all essential resources to Iraq for its defence.

To a question, Maulana Fazlur Rehman pointed out that Arab League had unanimously adopted a resolution demanding an unconditional withdrawal of the US and British forces from Iraq and pledging that the member states would neither support invasion of Iraq nor would they let others to use their soil for attack on Iraq.

Presence of US forces in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain demonstrates helplessness of Arab rulers, the Maulana said. However, he added, the Arab League stand represented the opinion of the peoples of its member states.

About OIC, the JUI remarked that the forum was “in the state of coma lying in ICU.”