PESHAWAR/MARDAN: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and JUI-F chief Maulana Samiul Haq have rejected US President Donald Trump’s allegations and threats in his recent tweet and termed them an attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan.

In a statement here on Wednesday, Mr Sherpao said that instead of blaming Pakistan for its failures the US leadership should realise that Pakistan had been rendering matchless sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

He said that the US president’s statement would have adverse impact on the continued efforts for restoration of peace in the region.

Mr Sherpao said that if Mr Trump did not withdraw his remarks the situation would deteriorate. He said that America’s failure in Afghanistan was because of its wrong policies. He said that the issue of terrorism could only be addressed through mutual cooperation.

JUI-S chief says time to say ‘no more’ to US

He appreciated China’s support for Pakistan following Mr Trump’s outburst and said that the world today recognised Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

In Mardan, chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Samiul Haq on Wednesday termed threats by the US president an attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan.

He was speaking to mediapersons after a meeting of provincial Majlis-i-Shura of his party. He hit out at the PML-N government for merely issuing statements of condemnation in this connection.

He asked the rulers not only to review its policy and relations with US, but also send a tough response to the US over its allegations and threats against Pakistan. He said that the government should shun its logistic and intelligence support to the US as well.

“It is time to say ‘no more’ to the US as we cannot destroy our country for the sack of getting American aid,” he said.

The JUI-S chief deplored that the rulers of Pakistan had been misinterpreting the meaning of Jihad for the last two decades to please America.

Asked about his party’s alliance with PTI, Samiul Haq said that they had not made any direct alliance with PTI rather there would be a seat-to-seat adjustment between the two parties in the next general elections.

He added that they were yet to devise a formula in this connection.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2018