The religious parties in Pakistan have never won support of the people since inception of Pakistan except in election 2003 in which they cashed in on the anti-American sentiments due to invasion of Afghanistan. For five years, the MMA government in NWFP turned a blind eye to the activities of the extremists we call Taliban today. They considered them a part of their own vote bank and used the specter of their fear to pressurize the government. Their performance in those five years was so poor that in last elections they were wiped off from the electoral map of Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)), correctly assessing mood of the people cleverly boycotted the elections to avoid defeat. Now these Taliban who were nurtured by the JI-led MMA have turned on Pakistan and are playing havoc with the lives of our people. JI was never in favour of partition of India and if you ask me, they are still working on the same agenda of uniting Muslims of India & Pakistan. Otherwise, isn't it surprising that at a time when the whole nation is united against these barbarians due to their heinous crimes, the JI is still supporting Taliban and opposing the military operation. Recent rally of JI at Lahore and the statement by its Amir Syed Munawar Hassan that there is no danger to the country from Taliban has shaken all Pakistanis. May I ask on what grounds is he supporting these Neanderthals who are slitting throats of innocent people, hanging the dead bodies to trees, looting banks, destroying properties, burning schools and flogging women? -BILAL SHAHID, Rawalpindi, May 20.