BAHAWALNAGAR: Maulana Kausar Niazi, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, today [March 7] categorically denied the Opposition`s allegations that the Government was thinking to ban the Jamaati-Islami. Addressing a big public meeting held at Sutlej Park ... he said the fear expressed by Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, General Secretary of the United Democratic Front in this connection was ... unfounded and ... portrayed the guilty conscience of the Opposition leader.

Instead of concocting such wild charges ...

it would be better for them to ... to desist from indulging in negative politics, the Maulana added. The Maulana said that [the] Government had always considered itself accountable to the people and as such was firmly committed to the full implementation of the manifesto on the basis of which it had won the last general election. He said a still more revolutionary manifesto would be prepared for the next general elections. The Maulana said that Prime Minister Bhutto was in fact engaged in `Jehad` against capitalism and was ... unwavering in his endeavour to secure the well-being of the poor.