KARACHI, May 27: The chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on Monday, voiced his support to the government in case of any misadventure by India.

He said: “We would fight along with the Armed Forces of Pakistan to defend our country’s every inch and corner.”

While addressing a large gathering in the city, he said people of Pakistan are ready to face every external challenge with courage.

He criticized the foreign policy of the present government and claimed that it has isolated the nation among the international community, adding that even in this crucial hour — when the US is backing India against Pakistan — no concrete foreign policy is being evolved to steer the country out of the dangerous situation.

He expressed disappointment over the behaviour of the present government towards political and religious parties, and advised President Pervez Musharraf to fully concentrate on the country’s defence.

He held the view that on one hand, India has assembled hundreds and thousands of its troops on mutual borders with Pakistan, while on the other, our government is conducting raids to arrest Ulema in tribal areas to “please its US masters.”

He denounced the reported removal of Khatm-i-Nabuwat from the list and criticized the role of United Nations and alleged that it is playing the role of a sub-unit of the US by backing all its moves against Afghanistan and now Pakistan.—PPI