SWABI/BUNER, Oct 6: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Munawar Hassan on Saturday said his party was committed to steering the country out of the US influence, as Washington was defaming Islam and Muslims in the name of terrorism to serve its own interests.

Mr Hassan told reporters here that the government had failed to protest against the US campaign of defaming Islam and Muslims and that the latest anti-Islam film produced in the US was continuation of the war on Islam.

He said until Pakistan was part of the US camp, it couldn’t progress.

He said Pakistan had been a victim of conspiracies hatched by the US and its allies, which never allowed it to become economically and militarily strong.

The JI chief said despite considering itself a big military power in the world, the US had suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan.

He said the defeat had made Nato announce its plan to leave Afghanistan ‘in hurry’.

Mr Hassan said Afghanistan was one of the key countries in the region and therefore, its residents should be allowed to choose their own way of life and government.

He said brave Afghan nationals had shattered the US dream to stay put in the region to grab huge natural resources.

The JI chief criticised western powers over anti-Islam activities.

He said his party would continue protesting against western powers without harming public life and property.

The other JI leaders called for the formation of a grand opposition alliance and said fair and free elections should be held without delay to ease the country’s political and socioeconomic crises. They said JI had finalised the list of its candidates for the next elections and that they all were supported by other opposition parties. The JI leader is scheduled to visit Buner district tomorrow.

In Buner, district chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Mohammad Hanif on Saturday said over 0.1 million people would attend the ‘Inqilab Rally’  to be led by party chief Munawar Hassan in Swari today (Sunday).

Mr Hanif told reporters that arrangements had been finalised for the rally, which would be unique in the history of the district.

“It will turn out to be a public referendum in favour of Jamaat(-i-Islami),” he said. The JI leader claimed that his party would sweep next elections in the district.

He criticised the ruling Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party over failure to launch a single mega project in the district in the last four and a half years.

He also complained about the unavailability of an orthopedic surgeon at District Headquarters Hospital in Daggar.