PESHAWAR, Jan 25: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) will hold a protest rally outside the parliament on Jan 27 to denounce the US air strike on a village in Bajaur Agency. According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq said that stopping from visiting the Bajaur Agency to condole with the grieved families was deplorable.

He called upon the federal government to raise the issue in the United Nations Security Council to prevent the United States from violating the country’s airspace in future. He said the federal government should seek an apology from the Bush administration.

He alleged that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had betrayed the nation by visiting the United States, instead of comforting the affected people of Bajaur.

The minister thanked the opposition for showing solidarity with the people of Bajaur agency.

He said the government would pay Rs200,000 to each family, whose house had been affected by the US airstrike.—Bureau Report