PTI chief expresses concern over military operation in NWA, demands premier to take political leadership into confidence about state of dialogue and nature of operation
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Saturday forecasted his party’s “country-wide rule” while reiterating serious concerns over the beginning of a full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) against terrorists.
Addressing public rallies in Abbotabad and Murree, the cricketer-turned-politician said that it was the duty of the premier to inform the country’s political leaders about the status of peace talks with Taliban and nature of the military operation that was being undertaken in NWA.
“The prime minister had a national consensual political mandate to conduct dialogue for peace and he has failed to inform the nation and its political leaders the status of this dialogue and the authorisation of the operation in NWA,” Khan said, asserting that it was also the duty of the prime minister to ensure that civilians were evacuated from the area, as was done in Swat, before a military operation.
“Instead, reports are already coming in from NWA about civilian casualties as people are caught in the midst of aerial bombings and helicopter gunships. This shows a total callousness on the part of the federal government towards the people of FATA who are citizens of Pakistan,” Khan said, pointing out that there were almost 2 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were in a bad shape and almost forgotten by the State.
Khan demanded the premier immediately take the national political leadership into confidence on the state of the dialogue and the nature of the military operation.
It was equally important to give political ownership to any military action being contemplated as soldiers continue to be martyred while the government maintains an inexplicable distance and silence on the prevailing state of affairs, he added.
The PTI chief reminded the premier and the people of Pakistan that dialogue with Taliban had resulted in a “sharp decline” in acts of terrorism especially in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.
Also, Khan stated, the main tribes in Waziristan were fully supportive of the talks and the ceasefire. That is why, Khan added, it was “incomprehensible” why the talks would be undermined at this stage or why the political leadership would be kept in the dark by the government on the actual status of the talks and operations.