Lahore: Ameer Jamaat e Islami Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan, has said that the US hue and cry over Pakistan’s agreements with China and Iran, coupled with its threats of international sanctions were a blatant interference in our internal affairs and a mockery of our sovereignty. Addressing the Friday congregation at Mansoora mosque, he however said the slavish mentality and cowardice of the Pakistani rulers had emboldened Washington to the extent that it was dictating in regard to our relations with our neighbours and other international affairs and desired that nothing be done against its liking.
He said, US Secretary of State’s objection to the handing over of Gwadar port to China and the Pak-Iran gas pipe line were totally uncalled for. These decisions had been taken in the larger national interest and Washington had no right to object to that, he added. He said that Russian President Putin’s visit to Pakistan had also been put off under US and Indian pressure which indicated that Islamabad was serving the foreign agenda against the nation’s sentiments.
The JI Ameer said, it was only because of the US interference that Pakistan was facing the menace of terrorism and a serious energy crisis. The IMF and the World Bank had tightened their hold on the country through heavy loans as they desired this country not to achieve self reliance. Washington wanted all our policies in line with its own interests.
He said that besides India, China and Iran were Pakistan’s neighbours but Washington had been pressurizing Islamabad to have close ties with India and keep away from other neighbours as it wanted to build India as the regional police man. India had always adopted a hostile attitude towards Pakistan and had been conspiring against this country whereas the Pakistani rulers were keen to declare India as Most Favorite Nation under US pressure, he said.
Syed Munawar Hasan said that timely elections were the only way to safeguard national solidarity and integrity as also to overcome terrorism and energy crisis. Artificial leadership emerging in the absence of elections had done incalculable harm to the country and given birth to several crises. He said there was no way to create a sense of involvement among the masses except the elections. As long as the people were not taken into confidence through fair, free and transparent elections, lawlessness and other problems could not be solved, he said.
The JI Ameer said conspiracies to sabotage to the elections were going on within the country and abroad and these could be foiled only through timely elections. However, he said, the political parties and the masses should extend full support to the Election Commission to block the way of the thieves, plunderers and the corrupt into power.
