Fazlur Rehman planning his own moot to counter ANP’s APC
In an apparent attempt to get political mileage out of the recent consensus among stakeholders on evolving a joint strategy for peace, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Wenesday decided to convene another All Parties Conference (APC) on terrorism on February 28, Pakistan Today has learnt.
A source in the JUI-F told Pakistan Today that the moot was being held to the counter the success of the APC convened by Awami National Party (ANP).
When contacted, the JUI-F Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri confirmed that his party was going to hold the APC in which the Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would also be invited.
He said that the JUI-F had decided to convene the APC on terrorism with the purpose of formulating a comprehensive and solid strategy to do away with the scourge of terrorism in the country.
He said that the JUI-F would invite all the political and religious forces to the conference and so far several parties had been invited which showed their willingness in this regard. “We will mull over the Taliban’s offer of talks and whether or not to accept it. However, we want that the offer should be taken seriously, because the JUI-F believes in resolution of the issue peacefully”, Haidri added.
He said that all these steps were being taken to create a level-playing field for the next general elections, so that all the political parties could carry out their electioneering without any fear.
Moreover, he said that the JUI-F wanted a long-term solution to the problem.
“It is the right time when all political and religious parties should combine forces so that peace could be restored in the country,” he maintained.
Denying the reports about JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s participation in any talks with Taliban in Qatar, Haidri said that it was merely propaganda, as he had gone Qatar on the invitation of the JUI-F chapter.
Lashing out at his party senior colleague Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Haidri said that he told lies to this effect for which he was also reprimanded by the party leadership.
He said that all the political and religious parties including the PTI would be invited to the APC. Awami National Party (ANP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), Balochistan National Awami Party, Paksitan People’ Party, Qaumi Wattan Party, JUP and Jamiat Ahle Hadith were formally contacted, which showed their willingness to participate in the conference, he said.