ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: Pakistan Muslim League-N Information Secretary Siddique-ul-Farooque has termed the arrest of Dr Ahmed Javed Khwaja along with his eight family members, by the FBI in Lahore on Thursday, as a naked aggression against Pakistan’s independence and sovereignty.

The uncalled for arrest of Dr Javed following the “unexplained arrest and release” of Dr Aziz was also an evidence of the haplessness of Gen Musharraf and his hand-made Jamali government, Farooq said in a strong worded reaction on the arrest of innocent Pakistanis.

He said the continuing rise in the crimes of terrorism, robbery, kidnapping for ransom and car-lifting despite the presence of a huge number of armed forces, intelligence agencies and police was another proof of total incompetence of Gen Musharraf’s team “created through rigging and horse-trading,” which had not only “failed in protecting the country’s sovereignty and national interests,” but also lacked an awareness of Pakistan’s vital interests.

The PML-N leader said the critics of Nawaz Sharif and his government should tell the people what benefits Gen Musharraf and his team had bestowed on the nation during the past three years.

“They had only been surrendering the nation’s honour, dignity and sovereignty under foreign dictation and their behaviour proves that they lack moral courage and are prepared to cross all limits in their bid to remain in power,” he alleged.

Siddique-ul-Farooque said there was still time to rectify their mistakes, unite the nation and let genuine political leadership of the country play its role. “All other steps would only lead the country to a quagmire of dishonour and humiliation, and no one would come to its rescue, he added.

He said the opposition parties would raise the issue in the National Assembly’s session on Dec 30 and demand of the government to place a complete report on FBI’s activities in Pakistan before the House.