Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and banned Hizb-ut Tahrir on Sunday staged separate demonstrations against the NATO attack inside Pakistani territory, resulting in the martyrdom of 24 soldiers. JI Islamabad chapter Amir Mian Aslam led a demonstration at Sector I/10, which was attended by around 150 activists of JI. Carrying the party flags and banners in their hands, the JI activists participated in the demonstration and raised slogans against the US and the PPP-led coalition government. “Down with America”, US and NATO aggression not acceptable,” read a placard. Speaking on the occasion, Mian Aslam said that NATO’s attack on Salala Check-post in Momand Agency that resulted in the death of 24 soldiers was a direct attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty. He said that such attacks reflected the mindset of American towards Pakistan. “Around 35,000 people have sacrificed their lives and an equal number of people have been wounded in the so-called war on terror,” he said.
He said that had the government reacted strongly against the US forces for breaching Pakistani law on May 2, 2011, when they killed Osama bin Laden in Abbotabad, the attack on Salala Check-post could have been averted.
“Zardari government has failed to safeguard Pakistan’s security and strategic interests,” he added. He demanded of the government to withdraw from the ongoing war on terror and give a tough response to the NATO forces. Earlier, 15 activists of banned Hizb-ut Tahrir staged a protest demonstration in front of the National Press Club against the NATO attack on Pakistan Army. They raised slogans against the PPP and military establishment over what they termed their failure to protect the country’s sovereignty.
