If Pakistan were at war with another country, would it allow the enemy to bomb our military installations, destroy our aircrafts parked inside their hangars and kill our soldiers and innocent citizens like it is letting the Taliban. Now that the TTP have accepted responsibility for attacking Kamra Base and other suicide attacks killing innocent Pakistani citizens, they have assumed the role of enemies of this state and as such no political party or religious group should be seen flirting or talking to them. Negotiations can only be conducted with an enemy only in case of defeat or after cessation of hostilities.
On 13 March, Sh Rasheed, a former minister under Musharraf, who supported his unjustified attacks on Lal Masjid and Nawab Akbar Bugti sought permission and blessings of Mullah Omer to facilitate Imran Khan’s planned march to North Waziristan. Mullah Omar is not even a Pakistani citizen and has no jurisdiction over Pakistan, nor can he be allowed to do so. North Waziristan is an integral part of Pakistan and Sh Raseed had no business seeking Mullah Omar’s permission for the Chairman PTI to enter a territory which is part of this country.
Sh Rasheed made other very objectionable remarks. All this was done in the presence of Imran Khan who was sitting on the stage. Sh Rasheed claims to have entered an electoral alliance with PTI. It was expected of Imran to disassociate from these unpatriotic statements of a former minister of Musharraf, who allowed NATO to launch drone attacks, and embroiled Pakistan in this war. Unfortunately, history tells us that every military dictator from Ayub, to Yahya, to Zia and finally Musharraf were instrumental in embattling this country into wars which were not in our national interest. Political opportunists like Sh Rasheed have associated themselves with every such military adventurer. If Imran Khan considers it feasible for PTI to be linked with Sh Rasheed, then I am afraid he is not the man whom we can look at, to bring about a change for better.
Malik Tariq
Lahore