LAHORE, Nov 7: Tribal leaders from South Waziristan were assured that none of the

Al Qaeda members they might hand over to the government would be given to the

US government, Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad told newsmen here on Friday.

He was speaking at an Iftar-dinner he had hosted for local journalists. Legal action would have been taken against those foreigners in Pakistan. However, instead of turning them in, these tribes decided to fight it out. The operation would now continue as long as it takes to achieve the objectives, he added.

All of the 450 foreigners handed over to the US were first offered to their respective governments. But no one was ready to accept them. It was only after the refusal that they were given to the Americans, he claimed.

Talking about the forthcoming Saarc summit, Shaikh Rashid said that Pakistan would take up the Kashmir issue with full force and there was no question of a compromise on it. The Kashmir issue and the atomic programme are symbols of national prestige. No one can dare compromise on them. No doubts should be entertained in this regard, the minister said.

“If there is truth in Indian allegations of cross-border terrorism, it should let the United Nations increase its monitors and agree to third-party monitoring.” The mere fact of India not agreeing to the UN or third-party monitoring exposes the hollowness of its claim, he said.

Commenting on Javed Hashmi’s arrest, he said that Mr Hashmi had only himself to blame for what was happening to him. “I warned him beforehand and he himself knew what was in store for him.” Even then, he made a choice and is now facing the consequences, Shaikh Rashid said.

Responding to a question if a Muslim League worker could be charged with sedition, he said that whoever committed a crime would be dealt with in the same manner. “The opposition has every right to go for a movement for Hashmi’s release and the government would deal with the situation as and when it arises.”

Shaikh Rashid insisted that it was not legally binding on the president to address a joint session of the parliament, and the latter would do so whenever he felt the need.

The Jamali government has been doing well for the last one year and it is comparable to the government with a so-called two-thirds majority. The opposition has tried to disrupt the government but failed to damage it any big way. Instead it was begging foreign embassies to intervene on its behalf. This was the most telling example of its weakness, he said.

Shaikh Rashid, however, said that the dialogue with the Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) would continue.