The Difa-i-Pakistan Council’s rally in Karachi was just one of the series, and apparently served merely to introduce its agenda, but for once its most important announcement was not that its next rally would be in Quetta on February 27. More immediate, and perhaps more significant, was its announcement of a sit-in in front of Parliament on February 27, to protest the resumption of supplies to Nato forces in Afghanistan. The rally was the fourth by the Council, after its rallies in Multan, Lahore and Islamabad. Ever since the Council was established, as an umbrella organization, it has been strongly opposed to any resumption of supplies to the Nato forces. Adding opposition to the granting of Most Favoured Nation status to India, the Council has revealed the underlying nexus between the USA and India, which the former wishes to prop up as its regional bulwark against China. Because of this nexus, the USA is intrinsically opposed to Pakistan, as is shown by its facilitation of India in playing a hitherto non-existent role in Afghanistan, which India is using to fan flames in Balochistan.
The Karachi rally was addressed by the DPC Chairman, JUI(S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, as well as Jamaatud Dawa Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, as well as PML chiefs of their own factions Ejazul Haq and Sh Rashid Ahmad, former DG ISI Lt Gen (retd) Hameed Gul, Jamaat Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hasan and PTI central leader Ejaz Chaudhry. The Council Chairman also mentioned that it would maintain pressure on the government not to allow resumption of supplies to Nato, as well as stop drone attacks. Supplies have not been restored after they were stopped following the Nato helicopter gunships’ attack of the Salalah checkpost, in which 24 Pakistani troops were killed. However, the government is attempting to resume ties with the USA, and so the resumption of military representation at various forums, and the resumption of activity at coordination centres, are indications that the government will work towards resumption of supply.
The government should view the Council’s call as an impending law and order problem, especially as those answering it will expect action from Parliament, not from the DPC itself, as other than three senators it has no political representation to speak of. The USA has been unrepentant about the attack, with President Obama desisting from making a necessary apology in an election year. Indeed, events since then have strengthened the case in Pakistanis minds to completely pull out of the war on terror, especially since many feel Pakistan should not have joined the war in the first place.