Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Secretary General of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, has condemned the NATO shelling on the Pakistani military check post in the strongest possible words and termed it as direct attack on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said that time had come to revisit terms of engagement with the US and NATO and formulate foreign policy in the light of national interests. He also underscored the need of taking steps for strengthening the internal unity to be able to fight off challenges at the external level.

He expressed these views while addressing a special session of Central Working Council of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, which met here today to review the situation after the NATO’s attack. Brig. (r ) Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, Qazi Faiz-ul-Islam and other leaders were also present on the occasion.

Dr Abbasi said that the Pakistan military was fully capable of defending the territorial integrity and independence of Pakistan. No one, he said, should dare cast an evil eye on the country as people were ready to offer any sacrifice for the national defence.

Dr Abbasi urged steps to be taken to divest the country of its dependence on the foreign economic aid which came with heavy strings attached. The crutches have to be thrown off. He said that without financial sovereignty, the country would not be able to enjoy real freedom. “Only an economically vibrant and strong Pakistan can earn a respectable place in the comity of nations and become a power within the South Asian region,” he stated.