Govt urged to end operation, start talks

ISLAMABAD - PML-N stalwart and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has
called upon the political forces to develop a meaningful consensus on some basic issues like supremacy of the
Constitution and writ of the state.
He stated this while addressing a seminar 'Beyond the Military Operation' organised by Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) here at a local hotel on Sunday.
Nisar said that the issue of militancy was not limited to Swat, Fata and NWFP but now it had become an issue of
Pakistans honour, dignity and security. He urged all the stakeholders to come forward and use their influence for
bringing extremism to an end. Suicide attacks by the extremists and US drone attacks are equally
condemnable, he said.
He flayed the way PPP-led coalition government was governing the country, saying decisions on the vital issues
of national importance were being made in haste and without proper consultations with the Opposition parties.
He was of the view that the government was still pursuing policies of former military dictator General (r) Pervez
Musharraf.
Chairman PTI Imran Khan said the government should send a delegation to Washington in a bid to persuade the
US think tanks and administration that the so-called war on terror was not in the interest of the US.
Former Amir of Jama'at-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad said the Talibans view of Islam was absolutely in
contradiction with the Islam of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) never punished
anybody for playing music, shaving beard or loose veil, adding that there were 100 options to solve the issue
without shedding blood.
Former chief minister NWFP and Chairman PPP-S Aftab Sherpao said the people of NWFP voted for Awami
National Party after it promised to replace military action with peaceful means but peace was not given a fair
chance. He was of the view that the situation might get worse if the IDPs in camps got violent. He urged the
nation to share the pain of IDPs.
Former governor NWFP Lt-Gen (r) Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai said that announcing ban on the entry of IDPs in
Sindh was an unforgivable crime, adding, We can handle the issue of IDPs without foreign aid and the people
of NWFP have done it. He said the locals of Mardan, Swabi and other parts of the province were hosting
millions of IDPs. He said military action had never been a solution to political issues.
Roedad Khan said that war on terror could only be won by winning hearts and minds of the people.
Former ambassador Ayaz Wazir and former secretary Fata Rustam Shah Mohmand also spoke on the
occasion.
Agencies add: Speakers at the PTI seminar have urged the government to end military operation in Malakand
Division immediately and to restore peace through means of dialogue to pave the way for return of
internally-displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes.
Imran Khan said that military operation was not only solution to control militancy in Pakistan. He said that current
government was making blunders and bombing its own citizens to please the US.
He said that peace could not be restored until and unless America and NATO would pull out their troops from
Afghanistan. Imran further clarified that he never supported any military operation against the people of Pakistan.
He warned that enemies of Pakistan could exploit the situation and government should take concrete steps to
peacefully resolve all the issues in Frontier province.
Speaking on the occasion, Ch Nisar blamed President Zardari and previous military ruler General (r) Pervez
Musharraf for using parliament as rubber stamp without taking them into confidence on national issues. He said
that the government had created confusion among the parliamentarians and masses on the issue of military
operation in Malakand division.
Nisar said that PML-N had a clear stance on this issue that those who tried to challenge the writ of the state and
violate the law of the land should be punished.
Criticizing the role of government, Qazi Hussain Ahmed emphasized to start dialogue despite military operation
for the durable peace in Malakand division. He pointed out that social injustice and deprivation led the people to
pick up the arms. He said that some foreign powers were also involved clandestinely in creating mess in the
frontier region.
Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (Sherpao) Aftab Ahmed Sherpao strongly criticized the role of government
in facilitating the IDPs and said that government should have made proper strategy before launching military
operation.
Lt-Gen Ali Ahmed Orakzai also opposed the ongoing military operation in Swat and Buner. He said tribesmen
were very peace loving and patriotic people. He said that they always cooperated with Pakistan Army and the
government in pointing out the foreign elements.
He blamed government, people of Pakistan and Muslim world for not providing sufficient relief to the three million
IDPs who left their homes after military operation. He said tribal people are very proud of their culture and they
would not allow anybody to occupy their soil.