By our correspondent
Karachi
Pakistan’s future is at stake and if US aggression is not stopped immediately then the US army would openly challenge the sovereignty of Pakistan; the government should therefore make serious efforts to stop US attacks in tribal areas, speakers said on Thursday while addressing a seminar titled “US aggression in the northern areas and Pakistan’s future.” The event was organised by Labour Education Foundation (LEF).
Speakers at the event feared that if the government failed to stop US aggression then Pakistan would become a state like Rwanda, Iraq or Lebanon. They demanded that the government stop army operation in tribal and northern parts of the country. They also demanded the establishment of an independent enquiry commission to investigate the killing of innocent people during terrorist attacks and giving stern punishment to the elements involved in such gruesome activities.
Speakers were of the view that the government should not bow before the US policies and take a bold stand against US attacks in tribal areas. “The war in the tribal areas would decide the future of Pakistan and if the locals, who are resisting US attacks, fail then Pakistan would be in real danger,” said Allauddin Bangish, a progressive scholar.
Karachi Bar Association President Mahmood-ul-Hassan said that US always favoured army moves and dictatorship against democratic and elected governments. “The US is not willing for peace in this region,” he said. “This war would not serve the interest of Pakistan and if the people want to stop US influence in the country’s affairs then they should take to streets to show the government that they stand united for the cause of the country.”
Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) Central Secretary Nasir Mansoor said that the US forces were making excuses to cross into Pakistani borders to “achieve their agenda.” The foreign forces’ attacks on Swat and Bajaur were like test cases and the coalition forces now plan to step into Pakistani soil to achieve their target, he added.
“The past and present governments always tried to divide masses into smaller groups to run their business smoothly,” National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) President Mazhar Ujan said. In his opinion, such policies paved the way for “foreign hands” and they took full advantage of the situation. These policies prepare a segment of people from among the masses and use them to defame Muslims and Islamic countries of the region, he said. “It is not our war; this is the war between RAW, CIA, Afghan and Pakistani agencies to gain power and control in this region. The Pakistani government should improve relations with Russia and China rather than the US and NATO,” Ujan said.
“These days the whole country is facing real terror; we are under attack by foreign forces and at the same time some groups are killing people in the name of religion,” he said, adding that at least 800 people have been killed in the last two months alone.