LAHORE: A senior leader of Jamaat-iIslami said on Sunday that Syed Munawar Hassan`s statement on the status of army soldiers killed in the war against terrorism was his personal opinion and not of the party.

Dr Farid Piracha told Dawn that the JI would definitely respond to the army`s reaction and soon release an official statement after a meeting of its Shura to be held on Monday.

`Decisions to speak on various issues of national interest are taken by the party`s supreme council (Shura). The JI will respond in detail after discussing the matter at themeeting. Till a final decision by the Shura, the party will consider Mr Hassan`s statement as his personal opinion,` the JI leader said. He said JI founder Maulana Maudoodi had always described his statements on certain matters relating to Fiqah as his personal opinion. `In this situation, the JI amir might have followed Maulana Maudoodi,` he added.

Mr Piracha said the JI had always supported the armed forces on important issues of national interest. He said the party never thought of making insulting remarks about the military, adding that the army had reacted to the JI chief`s statement in haste.