SIALKOT, April 14: The US has lost its superiority and claim to be an exponent of democracy, freedom and human rights, after occupation of Iraq.

This stated by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) deputy secretary general MNA Liaquat Baloch while speaking at a Sialkot District Bar Association meeting here on Monday.

He said killing of innocent civilians, including women and children, was an act of barbarism. The occupation proved that a nation which called itself ‘civilized’ had no respect for human rights and freedom of other states, he added.

America had showed the world that it had no respect for the sovereignty of smaller independent states, he maintained.

He said the world opinion was turning against the US, and it was a significant development.

Mr Baloch, who is also the naib amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, said the US-led aggression on Iraq has created a sense of insecurity among the Muslim states. It was time for the Muslims to wake up before the US-led forces occupy every state and its resources, he fumed.

He said the attack on Iraq was the continuation of so-called American ‘war on terrorism’ which it had launched against Afghanistan.

He said the US has occupied the oil resource rich Middle East which had been divided by the colonial powers after the World War II. The US also intended to control Far Eastern Muslim countries Indonesia and Malaysia. Similarly, it wanted control over oil rich central Asian states, Pakistan, Iran and Syria. It destroyed Iraq to create Israeli hegemony in the Middle East.

He asked Pakistan rulers what they got by supporting the US. It had never come to Pakistan’s rescue. Rather it helped the forces inimical to Pakistan, he continued.

He, however, urged the military and civil forces to get united to face the challenges ahead. In this regard, restoration of constitution was the first prerequisite, he added.

Mr Baloch also called for direct dialogue with army on political differences.

He said feudalism was the major obstacle in the way of progress of Pakistan.

MPA Arshad Mahmood Baggu, Bar president Munawar Warraich and general secretary Shamshad Bajwa were also present on the occasion.

Impostors: Some private parties are active in both Sialkot and Narowal districts, impersonating authorized PTV agents and issuing forged licences.

A majority of housewives in Sialkot and Narowal districts are illiterate and cannot differentiate between geniune and fraudulent licences. A lot of people do not bother to renew their TV licences. The impostors take advantage of these weaknesses of people.

Expressing concern over this situation, the chairman of Citizens Rights Commission, Dr Munir Ahmad Butt, has proposed that TV licences should be issued only by authorised banks or concerned PTV centres, and should be valid for five to 10 years.

JOURNALISTS’ RALLY: Sialkot-based newsmen and photographers will take out a procession at 3pm on Tuesday (today) to condemn the killing of journalists in American bombing in Iraq.