LAHORE – Maulana Fazlur Rahman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F, in an exclusive interview has said that the destruction of educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA is nothing new, as similar crimes are committed in wars, reported Radio Free Europe.
He was asked about the destruction of schools in tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Look, this is war and such crimes are committed from all parties,” Rahman said. “In this connection, the leadership of the Afghan Taliban condemned the destruction of schools in their fresh statement.
Alongside, we should look at the destruction of madrassas and mosques and see who bombed them. Both acts are condemnable.” When asked about the military operations against the Taliban, the cleric said he did not support the use of power to curb militancy.
“We never support the [war] concept,” Rahman said. “The US has been using power over the past 10 years to curb terrorism, but failed. I say this for Pakistan as well. We have seen results of the use of force in Bengal and Balochistan and will see its outcome in Pakhtunkhwa. Neither the parliament nor the people support this, but the army is conducting operations or asked by the government to do so. So, this road is not leading to success.”
About the use of political violence, Fazl said his party rejected the use of violence as a means to political ends, adding that the JUI-F fully endorsed a unanimous decision taken by religious leaders in Lahore three years ago dissociating themselves from suicide attacks.
“We also said that the ‘terrorists’ should lay down arms and use the legal and constitutional means for their demands. Then the Ulema of Deoband also unanimously termed the ‘armed fighting’ as un-Islamic.” He was of the view that the government should come out with an open policy on the drone strikes.
“The government should come out with an open policy. Either they should admit that it (drone strikes) is part of their policy towards the US or otherwise, the only way is to defend the sovereignty of land by using the defence power.” It is worth recalling that in an interview with Radio Free Europe earlier this week, former chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad condemned suicide attacks on civilians and mosques.
However, he voiced support for such attacks being carried out in Palestine.
