Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan has said that military operation in FATA cannot be an alternative to dialogue between the Taliban and the government.
Talking to media persons at the airport on Thursday, the JI chief said the country had witnessed the results of a number of military operations in the past which were carried out in East Pakistan, Balochistan, Karachi and the continuing operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. He said the country could not get the desired results from these operations but to earn hatred of the people of the areas.
He said the government and Taliban committees were carrying out their duties reasonably well and a positive outcome was expected. He said it was not a new but years-old problem and everyone including media should play their role to help address it.
Hassan said by sitting together the two sides would seriously consider how to resolve the issues. Even if talks fail, the committees should continue their work to find a way out, he asserted.
About the ongoing efforts for MQM’s joining the Sindh government, he said this would be the easiest way to fail the ongoing cleansing operation in Karachi. He said the MQM could not remain alive by remaining out of the government as it was an oxygen cylinder for it. He said there was a long list of crimes of the MQM and to hide the crimes and escape from the punishment, it was necessary for the party to remain in the government. He, however, warned that credibility of the PPP would be at stake if the MQM joined the Sindh government.
