Religious leaders call for unity

LAHORE: Religious leaders called for complete unity in the country in the wake of cowardly Indian violation of Pakistani air space and dropping bombs in forest areas, expressing complete backing to Pakistan Army in their response to Indian aggression.

Tanzim-e-Islami (TI) ameer Hafiz Akif Saeed said Indian planes’ late night sortie was an open attack on a sovereign country which, as Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged in his address to the nation, must not have allowed Indian planes to return safely.

Talking to The News, he said, repelling Indian planes was no option but those should have been downed, as PM had promised Pakistan would not think but reply to any Indian attack. He said letting Indian planes to return after intruding deep into our air space would show the world that Pakistan was thinking instead of replying.

Akif Saeed said Pakistani nation stood behind its armed forces in every test, and praised ISPR DG for warning that Pakistan would reply to Indian misadventure at the time and place of its choice. Akif Saeed however said that this warning must translate into reality and should not merely serve to satisfy public anger; otherwise, Pakistan’s reputation would suffer serious damage.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur strongly condemned Indian aggression in Pakistan territory and demanded the government raise this issue at diplomatic level, which is condemnable. He said Pakistan must urge friendly countries to convene emergency session of UN Security Council, and tell the world that India was trying to impose war on Pakistan. He called for joint parliament session to devise unified strategy. He said border violations by Indian army were serious act which cannot be ignored. International community must take notice of this serious situation.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) president Dr Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair and Secretary General Qari Zawwar Bahadur said it was high time Indian war monger leadership must be taught a sufficient lesson against invading the border sanctity of sovereign neighbours.

Talking to The News, the JUP leaders termed satisfactory the National Security Committee decision to reply India at the time and place of our choice. They said India must come into senses and be warned against inviting its own destruction by committing such misadventures against Pakistan, and warned that Pakistani nation would prove to be a hard nut to crack for Indian army which had been killing unarmed Kashmiris in cold blood. They said that valiant armed forces of Pakistan were fully prepared to give a tough reply to India on the time and place of their choice.