Pakistanis protest U.S. presence in Pakistan
Posted on 05/12/2002 6:06:55 AM PDT by knighthawk
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 12 (IslamOnline) – The Pakistani tribes in the northern state of Wazirustan have agreed to exile, fine, and burn down the home of anyone who helps American forces in their hunt for Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements in the area.
The leaders of Bakakhil, Jannikhil, and Kabulkhil tribes have agreed that all who helped American commandos in the Showal jungles in Wazirustan will be fined 5 million Pakistani Rupees payable to the tribal council. Punishment will also include burning the house of the culprit, as well as exiling him from the area.
This comes after the failure of the Pakistani government to convince the leaders of these tribes to cooperate in anti-Taliban and Al-Qaeda operations in the Showal jungles.
Tribal leaders had placed conditions on the government’s appeal, saying that they would only cooperate if the U.S. forces in the area left. This condition was rejected.
The U.S. presence in Wazirustan, and the U.S.-led raids on religious schools in the Pakistani tribal region faces the collective opposition of the people of the region.
Mass demonstrations were held Friday, May 10, in many Pakistani cities to denounce American intervention and Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf’s government policies.
Demonstrators held placards demanding, “Death to America”, and called on the government to expel U.S. forces from Pakistan.
Maulana Fadlurahman, the leader of Ulama’ul-Islam group spoke to demonstrators in Bagh Crawend Pemardan, telling them that “the Americans must listen carefully, and hear that we want security and peace in our country. And whoever sets our country on fire, let him know that his country will not remain safe and secure.”
He added that U.S.-led operations in the tribal region was offensive, and that it was the duty of the Pakistani government to take wise decisions regarding this.
Referring to the Karachi bus blast Wednesday, May 9, in which 11 French nationals working on a submarine project for the Pakistani navy were killed, Fadlurahman expressed his regret over the killing of foreigners in Pakistan.
“Foreigners who live in Pakistan are our guests. Our religious duty is to defend them. We must search for the people who really benefited from this incident, especially since these foreigners were working for the modernization of the Pakistani defense system.”
Fadlurahman stressed the importance of searching for the motives behind the blast, adding that the perpetrators were clearly enemies of Pakistan.
Maulawi Jawhar Shah told the demonstrators in Jarseda, a city in northern Peshawar, “We will not tolerate American intervention in our country.”
However, Iftikhar Hassan Shah, the ruler of Sarhad province denied the presence of U.S. soldiers in his province.
“Everything that was published in the newspapers about U.S. intervention, and the searching of religious schools are lies and rumors… The Pakistani government would not allow a foreign army to carry out operations in the border areas.”
He added, “The Pakistani government has undertaken all measures in its border areas to prevent Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements from entering Pakistani lands.”
Pakistanis protest U.S. presence in Pakistan
Islam religion of peace-list, if people want on or off this list, please let me know.
Guess that doesn't apply to the ones you murder.
24 million living in Saudi Arabia being a fine example. It's a desert and 24 million live there with the numbers climbing fast! The way of Islam!
How would you like to be in Musharef's shoes knowing that around any corner the Assassin could lurk ready to stop you from doing any number of acts for the Good.
This religion is mankind's deadliest enemy. Truly it is the spawn of Satan.
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