Islamabad, Mar.20 (ANI): It has almost become a ritual in Pakistan to blame a ‘foreign power’ (read India) for any terror strike in the country, and this ‘ritual’ is being religiously followed by the Pakistani leadership each time extremists strike killing scores of people.

However, leaders in Pakistan seem to have forgotten the fact there are numerous banned religious and non-religious organisations flourishing in the country under political patronage and wreaking havoc all over the nation.

Organisations like the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which claims to be a humanitarian group but is actually the front face of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), are busy working towards achieving their nefarious aims without any check in Pakistan under the parental guidance of some of the political parties wearing the label of religion.

Former Pakistan minister for law, justice, parliamentary affairs and human rights and attorney general Iqbal Haider, in his article in The News, pointed out that Islamabad must refrain from laying the blame on India when the country itself is fathering several extremist groups.

“ Some of the political parties wearing the label of religion or not, must not lend any moral or material support, covertly or overtly, to the Taliban for minor gains or victories in elections,” Iqbal said.

“ Why should we blame India, when we have within Pakistan such well-wishers, protectors and supporters of extremist militant banned obscurantist religious organizations such as the various segments of Taliban, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and several other militant Lashkars who are enough to destroy our peace and progress,” he added.

Iqbal stressed that Pakistani leaders must rise against the nefarious aims and objectives of the Taliban and their terrorism which is threatening not only the integrity of Pakistan, but also peace and prosperity in the South Asian region.

“Instead of pursuing a blame game with our neighbours which will only help the Taliban in spreading their influence, we must adopt the policy of cooperation and collaboration not only within Pakistan, but also with our neighbors particularly India, Afghanistan, Iran and China,” he further added. (ANI)