US slammed for demanding ban on jihadi organisations

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Religio-political parties have rejected Americas demand to ban the jihadi organisations, terming it as an interference in Pakistans internal matters.

Reacting strongly to the American demand, they said no country had the right to interfere in Pakistans domestic affairs.

Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League, and former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Allah Almighty has called for jihad (holy war) and it cannot be prohibited as such. "If we damage our ties with the Taliban, India would befriend them," he maintained.

A spokesman of the Jamiat Ulemae Islam (F) said it appeared that the United States wanted to achieve the objectives which it could not achieve during the tenures of Benazir and Nawaz Sharif.

He expressed concern over the news regarding US demands to ban the jihad organisations and its pressure on Afghanistan to extradite Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden for trial on terrorism charges.

Maulana Samiul Haq of his own faction of JUI said that jihad was the only means to keep alive, without which the enemies of Islam would exterminate the Muslims. "This is the only way to survive," he asserted.

Central Daawat-ul-Irshad chief, Professor Hafiz Saeed said that both the United States and India seemed to have reached some tacit understanding against the freedom fighters and Pakistan, "and the pressures being witnessed are manifestations of the same."

He said Washington was backing India openly, "but Mujahideen would not submit to any pressure." America, Saeed maintained, is an enemy of jihad and the government should not accept any pressure in this regard.

Former commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar, Syed Muzamil Shah said that Americas remarks about these organisations deserved condemnation.