Qazi slams govt for operation in Wana

Published October 5, 2003

NOWSHERA, Oct 4: Qazi Hussain Ahmed has slammed the government for what he called the so-called operation against Al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives in Wana, South Waziristan Agency, saying the action has been taken at the behest of the US.

Speaking at an open Kachehri here at Pabbi on Friday, the MMA parliamentary leader deplored that these Mujahideen had been brought from their respective countries on the persuasion of the US to fight against the Russians forces in Afghanistan and now they were being killed in the name of Al Qaeda one by one to appease Washington.

It was astonishing that even the NWFP chief minister was kept unaware of the operation, he said and alleged that the Pakistan army was being used to safeguard the interests of the US and its allies.

He asked Gen Musharraf to chose either the uniform or the presidency.

The MMA would begin agitation against the LFO which would continue till the restoration of the 1973 Constitution, the Jamaat chief told participants.

For this purpose, a mass contact movement would initiated from Oct 15, to prepare the people for the struggle aimed at restoration of the Constitution and doing away with the controversial LFO, he added.

The MMA leader alleged that Gen Musharraf had usurped the rights of the people by clipping the powers of parliament. He blamed police for the rampant incidents of murders, robberies and thefts and asked policemen to serve the people.