Mr Hassan expressed in a recent TV programme doubts about martyrdom of thousands of army and security personnel who have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorists in the country since the 9/11 attack in New York.

When asked about the definition of Shaheed and the status of thousands of Pakistani security personnel killed in the fight against militants, he said: `If an American is not a martyr, then how a person who helps and supports him (American) can be called a martyr.

In another statement, the JI amir declared Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, who had accepted responsibility for killing thousands of innocent civilians and securitypersonnel and was killed in a recent US drone attack, as martyr and said: `America has killed more people than Taliban.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also gave a controversial statement defending the Taliban and calling them martyrs. He said: `Even a dog killed by the Americans is a martyr.

The ISPR statement made no mention of the Maulana`s statement.

Observers are of the opinion that the statements of the two religious leaders have hurt the sentiments of most Pakistanis, who even after suffering from the worst kind of terrorism in which more than 50,000 people were killed, want the government and the TTP to hold talks for permanent peace in the country.

Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement also condemned the remarks made by the JI chief.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appeal to the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of Mr Hassan`s statement.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Ahmed Shah condemned Mr Hassan`s statement and urged him to retract it.

He said the JI chief should also describe the status of thousands of innocent citizens killed in terrorist attacks. `How will Mr Hassan describe the innocent people who were killed indiscriminately in attacks on mosques, imambargahs, churches and markets,` he asked.

The ANP reacted even strongly to the statement and urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice and try the JI chief for treason. `There must be a lifetime ban on Jamaat-i-Islami so that no-one could dare do this in future,` ANP`s spokesman Senator Zahid Khan said.

He alleged that the JI had vehemently supported the US in its war against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. `How would he describe those JI men who died in the Afghan war while helping andsupporting the Americas,` he asked.

Mr Khan said the JI amir`s statement reflected his party`s line and policies, adding that Mr Hassan badly hurt the feelings of families of the martyrs who had died in the war against terrorism.

PTI leader Imran Ismail condemned the statement and said Mr Hassan had put himself in big trouble. He was a seasoned politician, the PTI leader said, adding that it was important to see how `he gets himself out of this situation.

Senior political and foreign affairs analyst Hassan Askari described the JI amir`s remarks as a big shock for the nation and said: `Rejecting sacrifices of thousands of martyrs of personnel of the army, police and paramilitary forces is condemnable and the nation will not support such views,` he said.