ISLAMABAD, 17 April 2004 — Pakistan yesterday accused the United States of “unwarranted” interference in its internal affairs after its war-on-terror ally expressed concern over the jailing of an opposition leader.
“It was pointed out to the embassy that the US statement is not only unwarranted and misplaced but is tantamount to interference in the internal affairs and the judicial process of Pakistan,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said in a statement.
Javed Hashmi, leader of a coalition of opposition parties known as the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, was convicted this week of sedition and sentenced to 23 years’ jail for alleging members of the military were against President Pervez Musharraf. The State Department Tuesday expressed concern over Hashmi’s conviction and sentence.
Meanwhile, a tribe whose members are accused of harboring Al-Qaeda is preparing to launch a hunt for the militants after those sheltering them refused to surrender.
The decision came after five men said to be sheltering rebels rejected demands by a tribal assembly to surrender, leave the area or promise not to protect foreign militants.
