KARACHI, July 15: The National People's Party chairman and former caretaker prime minister, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, on Thursday deplored reported remarks by the US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, that Pakistan's role in the 'war against terrorism' was "not enough."

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Jatoi said that Pakistan was not only a strong ally of the US in its anti-terrorism war, but had also taken effective steps in this connection.

He said that while US President George Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defence Secretary Ronald Rumsfeld had been 'praising' the country's role against terrorism, a US functionary claimed that Islamabad's contribution in this regard was "unsatisfactory," which showed US's double standards.

Mr Jatoi said Pakistan was a sovereign country and its people fully know how to protect their self respect. "Time has come to show to the world that we are a self-respecting sovereign nation," he emphasised.

The NPP chief deplored the 'inhuman and discriminatory treatment' being meted out to Pakistanis in the US. He also demanded lifting of the ban regarding government advertisements placed on a group of newspapers. -PPI