Political leaders have endorsed the demand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif to barr political parties with militant wings from contesting elections, while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) called the demand “vague and illogical.”
Reacting to Nawaz’s statement, Awami National Party (ANP) member Haji Adeel said his party had no objection to the proposal. “We neither have a militant wing nor do we object on barring political parties from taking part in elections which have militant wings,” he said.
The Awami National Party (ANP) general secretary said the demand to ban political parties with militant wings was a good omen.
PML-Q Senator Naeem Hussain Chattha calling for de-weaponisation in the country said militant wings were unacceptable in democracies.
MQM official spokesman Wasay Jalil said Nawaz had issued a sweeping statement and it would have been better if he first defined “militant wing.” “His party may also possess a militant wing too,” he said. He said Nawaz’s statement was not worth reacting to since it was ‘vague and illogical.’ He said Nawaz should first present concrete proof then make such demands.
Jamaat e Islami (JI) General Secretary Liaqat Baloch said the JI believed in a peaceful political struggle and had never been involved in militancy. He said JI was the only political party which had struggled abiding by democratic norms.
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Information Secretary Kamil Ali Agha said his party had demanded all stakeholders in Karachi must be taken onboard and a unanimous policy must be devised to restore peace there.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab General Secretary Sami Ullah Khan partly agreed with the demand and said terrorist activities and targeted-killing should be stopped immediately. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) Information Secretary Umer Sarfraz Cheema said agreed with Sharif and said political parties with militant wings should be banned.
