LAHORE, Jun 16: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan secretary general Syed Munawar Hasan has said that Pakistan's mere protest in response to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's naked threats to invade the country apart from continuous Nato strikes killing Pakistani civilians and military personnel was an expression of shameful cowardice.

In a statement on Monday, Munawar Hasan said with mere protests present rulers can neither protect country's borders nor evade a possible war on its western borders. He warned that the nations not ready for war can never defend themselves.

Munawar said the serious dangers the country is beset with at present are a direct result of Musharraf's decision to become frontline ally in the so called American war on terror. He said the nation had high hopes that the government formed with masses' votes would reverse all those policies to strengthen national defence and solidarity, but it is a matter of immense sorrow that PPP government has also caused serious frustration to the masses by continuing all policies of Gen Musharraf specially the coward policy of bowing down before American aggression.

Munawar particularly condemned the statement of Defence Minister that country lacked the capabilities to defend itself against Nato attacks, and said the minister should be held accountable for intimidating and demoralizing the nation against enemies. He asked the minister to step down immediately if he lacked the capabilities to defend the country, adding that his statement was an open insult to the nation and its armed forces.

Munawar reminded the rulers that America is attacking and killing Pakistani civilians and military personnel only because of coward policy of not replying to such attacks and contending merely with the verbal protests. He said after losing war in Afghanistan, America wants to avenge the defeat with Pakistan and to destroy our nuclear capabilities and weaken our armed forces. He said unless we chase and hit back against the Nato places and war battery attacks on Pakistan would never end but will actually increase. He said Pakistan should also raise this issue on world forums and make diplomatic efforts to seek support from friendly countries like China, Iran etc. He said the nation should forge complete unity in its ranks at this time of trial to combat the hostile situation with resolve and commitment.


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