Urdu daily defies war on terror

Challenging the military-led government's position in the war against terrorism, a leading Urdu-language newspaper yesterday ran another front-page advertisement in support of suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and branded him as "Lion of Allah."

Yesterday's advertisment by daily Ummat, or the Nation, is the second one this week in which the newspaper urged the people to support those who are waging holy war in the name of Allah.

"Promise by God - the Jihad will succeed," the advertisement said saying that more than a million U.S. forces failed to get hold of "Allah's Lion."

No immediate comment was available from the government, which has announced plans to launch media campaign to mobilise public opinion against the menace of terrorism.

Earlier this week, the government had published its own advertisement with pictures of bin Laden and his 17 close associates, seeking public support for their arrest.

The pro-bin Laden advertisement begins with a verse from the Holy Quran that asks people to 'remain steadfast in the face of fight against another group'.

It has a big picture of the Saudi dissident at the centre and asks people to pray for the success of the holy warriors (mujahideen).

"Jihad is the only answer to terrorism," the advertisement reads. Don't forget the innocent Muslims of Kashmir, Palestine and Afghanistan, it says. "Fight terrorism with jihad. Side with Islam in fight against infidels."

The newspaper management said yesterday that so far the government has not tried to stop them from publishing such advertisements.

Earlier, one of its official said that the paper refused to publish anti-bin Laden advertisement sponsored by the Pakistani government.

Bin Laden, whom Washington accuses of masterminding the September 11 terrorist strikes in the United States, enjoys a cult following among Pakistan's religious hardliners, specially belonging to the northern areas close to Afghanistan.

Pakistani religious groups are furious over their government's decision to side with the United States in war against terrorism in Afghanistan and have been demanding for a change in policy.

Pakistan, which has been shaken by a series of terrorist attacks targeting foreigners in recent months, has launched a hunt for fleeing members of bin Laden's Al Qaida group and their Pakistani supporters.

Many foreign militants have entered Pakistan to escape the U.S.-led operation against them. But Pakistani security forces, backed by American intelligence officials, have mounted a countrywide hunt.