KARACHI: The Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) has warned the Pakistan government against siding with Saudi Arabia in the conflict in Yemen, advising it to play the role of a mediator between the Arab states for resolving their issues.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, MWM secretary general Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said Pakistan could play an important role in ending the conflict in Yemen by bringing all parties to the negotiating table.

Also read: Nawaz orders evacuation of Pakistanis stranded in Yemen

He said Pakistan’s role in a military operation against any group in Yemen would aggravate the situation.

The MWM leader called upon the prime minister and the army chief to stay away from the conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

He said there was no sectarian division in Yemen, claiming that “Houthis offer prayers behind a Sunni Imam”.

Allama Nasir criticised Saudi Arabia for carrying out air strikes inside Yemen.

He claimed that Saudi forces were attacking civilians in the name of targeting rebels. He said women and children were among people killed in Saudi Arabia’s military actions.

“If Saudis claim to be true representatives of Muslims why not they challenge Israelis who are killing innocent Palestinians,” he asked.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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