3 states on US hit-list after Iraq, says Qazi

Published February 12, 2003

ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The chief of Jamaat-i-Islami and a leader of MMA, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, has claimed that Pakistan will be one of three Muslim countries to be targetted by the US after Iraq.

“Despite a global opposition, the United States is fully ready to destroy Iraq,” said in a special Eid message to the people.

“After Iraq, it has focussed its eyes on Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.”

He was echoing a view among some Pakistanis that their country could be targetted because of perceptions that Al Qaeda and Taliban remnants are regrouping on Pakistani soil and that Osama is hiding in its territory.

“The Musharraf government has given FBI a free hand to conduct raids on any house, mosque or Madaris and round up respectable citizens while Pakistani courts are helpless in offering any relief,” Qazi railed.—AFP