Skip to main content

Army should sit with politicians to end terrorism: Fazl

PESHAWAR: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said the nation was not satisfied with the results of past military operations in the tribal areas and suggested that, rather than targeting innocent people, state institutions should sit down with politicians to hammer out a solution. The JUI-F emir was addressing a press conference after convening a grand tribal jirga on Friday, days after a deadly suicide attack on his party’s convention in Bajaur left 63 persons dead and scores more injured. According to the declaration, the gathering expressed concerns over recent terrorist attacks and demanded action against the culprits. “The jirga demands effective steps to restore law and order,” said Mr Rehman while reading out the declaration. The jirga was attended by Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) head Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PPP leader Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Awami National Party General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain and others political leaders as well as a large number of tribal elders. Mr Rehman said the state institutions, instead of launching a crackdown on innocent public, should sit down with politicians to foil the designs of terrorists. While the statement did not explicitly say as much, several lawmakers from KP and the tribal districts have, in the past, decried the harassment of locals in the name of ensuring security, while lamenting that terrorists are allowed a free rein. He demanded that those affected by military operations conducted in the past should be compensated for their losses. Referring to the current uptick in terror attacks, he claimed it was an “international conspiracy” to destabilise Pakistan economically, politically and internally. In reply to a question, the JUI-F chief said consultations between state institutions and political parties were imperative as decisions made without taking politicians into confidence will lack public support. The jirga demanded the restoration of peace in the merged areas as well as the provision of facilities to the tribal people. The sitting also proposed a multi-party conference to forge unity among political parties and people in the backdrop of recent terrorist attacks against police, military personnel and political parties. Mr Rehman told the press conference that the JUI-F central executive committee was meeting today (Saturday) for consultation on holding the multi-party moot. Besides, he also underscored the importance of strong bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and chalking out a joint strategy to weed out terrorism. In his speech, the PkMAP chairman, Mr Achakzai claimed the ongoing bloodshed and violence on Pakhtun and Afghan lands was not a social or cultural phenomenon but the outcome of proxy wars waged by the international powers for their vested interests. “It was not feasible to not allow movement from one country to the other; therefore, both Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to make a joint strategy and further strengthen their relations.” He suggested the Afghan Taliban call a meeting of those leaders who took part in Doha negotiations with the US for consultations to come out of diplomatic isolation. Mr Achakzai also demanded the UN convene a special meeting of Afghanistan and its neighbours to present their reservations and reach a consensus on respecting each other’s sovereignty and independence while adhering to the principles of non-interference and peaceful co-existence. Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2023
http://dlvr.it/StDSdP

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pragmatic steps taken to implement Axle Load Control regime on NH&MP

Islamabad: Ministry of Communications has taken pragmatic steps to implement the Axle Load Control regime on Motorways & National Highways in the country. Sole objective of this move is to control travelling of overloaded vehicles which lead to fatal accidents besides damaging the national asset of road network of billions of rupees.Prior to implementation of axle load control regime, a technical committee was formed, consisting of officers from Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority which remained in constant contacts with transport community, Members of the Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders hailing from all the provinces. This technical committee visited their offices and held detailed discussions in series of meetings and took them into confidence to facilitate implementation of Axle Load Control regime. The stakeholders assured of their full cooperation and subsequently, implementation of Axle Load Control was realized which is in progress.It is worth to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

3 drug pushers, bootlegger held

Islamabad :Islamabad Industrial Area Police have arrested three drug pushers and a bootlegger besides recovery of narcotics and 120 liter liquor from them, a police spokesman said.According to details, a police team of Industrial Area police station arrested three drug pushers namely Kamran, Irfan and Shamoon Masih and recovered 320 gram heroin and 210 gram hashish from them,.Another police team arrested a bootlegger namely Ansar Javed and recovered 120 liter wine, bottles, stickers and brewing equipment from him. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them.SP (Industrial Area) Zubair Ahmad Shaikh has said that Industrial Area zone police is doing its job efficiently and crackdown against criminals would be continued.Despite the sit in, he said Islamabad Police has been performing its duty quite efficiently and has successfully managed to maintain the daily life in the Capital.In this regard, Senior Police officers including S...
Post a Comment
Read more

Climate March demands urgent steps to save fast degrading environment

(Clockwise from top left): Young participants in Climate March put on gas masks to indicate how polluted the air will become in the future if we don’t take steps now; people coming out of Frere Hall and marching on the Karachi Press Club (bottom) to spread awareness about the factors contributing to climate change, on Sunday.—Shakil Adil / Reuters / White Star KARACHI: The Climate March 2023, which saw a large number of individuals, communities and organisations walking from Frere Hall to the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, was all about committed people joining forces to amplify their message and bring attention to the urgent need for doing something for climate change and environmental preservation. It was not just about holding up placards and chanting slogans, though there was plenty of that as well. The participants in the march tried to raise awareness and inspire action by talking sense and opening eyes. They told you why Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, was...
Post a Comment
Read more