Thousands of activists belonging to religious and banned outfits on Monday took to Islamabad’s streets under the banner of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) against US intervention in the country’s internal affairs, warning to wage jihad on the US if it did not end its meddling.
Around 5,000 protesters gathered at the Aabpara Chowk, however, the capital administration had banned the entry of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed Ahmed and Sipah-e-Sahaba, generally known as Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), leader Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi in Islamabad, so both of the leaders could not attend the rally. The protesters were chanting various slogans against the US, including “Death to America” and “America deserves one treatment: jihad, jihad”.
The rally participants slammed the tabling of a resolution in the US House of Representatives, which said the Baloch nation had a historic right to self-determination. They warned that if the US continued to interfere in the internal matters of the country, they would wage a war against it. They warned the government not to open NATO supplies and to abandon the ‘American agenda’.
The participants said America had killed hundreds of innocent Pakistanis in drone attacks, but the government was still silent on the issue and wanted to restore NATO supplies. They also demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, saying he had been following the policies of America and failed to defend the country. DPC Chairman Maulana Samiul Haq said the country would have to be wiped clean of “American terrorists”.
“We will not allow America to succeed in any of its conspiracies to break Pakistan. Balochis are our brothers and we will show our full support for them on February 27 by organising an All Parties Conference in Balochistan,” he said.
Haq said the US wanted to occupy Balochistan so that it could create unrest in the region, adding that America was silent on the Kashmir issue. He said the DPC would not only bring peace to Balochistan but also extend its efforts to get freedom for the Kashmiri people.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan called on the defence minister to resign immediately as he had failed to defend the country and was following American dictation. He said the country did not need enemies in the presence of such a defence minister.
Hassan said the discriminatory attitude of the country towards Balochistan had allowed outside forces to take advantage of the situation. He announced to attend the APC on February 27 that has been scheduled to look into the concerns of Baloch people.
Former chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General (r) Hameed Gul said their protests would turn violent if the government did not adopt the right path. “Intentions of America towards Balochistan are now evident,” he said, adding that the Pakistani nation would not allow
DPC calls for jihad against US
