- JI chief Sirajul Haq believes NWA operation not permanent solution, says imposition of Article 245 is non-political
- QWP’s Sherpao says Khan has no evidence to substantiate demands for mid-term polls, lauds PM’s initiative to hold NSC
- MQM’s Farooq Sattar lauds PM’s talks invitation to Khan; criticises govt for crackdown against PAT workers
The leaders of various political parties who attended the National Security Conference unanimously believed that the country could not have peace without achieving political and economic stability.
Talking to reporters after attending the conference held at PM House on Saturday, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said that national issues could not be resolved until the country becomes politically stable.
Lamenting that the tribal areas were allocated only Rs 18 billion in the annual budget, Haq said that problems in the tribal areas would be resolved only if the government addresses issues of infrastructure, employment and basic needs. He said that the North Waziristan operation is not a permanent solution, and demanded that the government end it within the minimum possible time.
He said the issue of IDPs from Mohmand and Bajaur agencies had not yet resolved so the addition of more IDPs would aggravate the situation. The JI chief also proposed that tribal peoples should be involved in the process to resolve their issues and development of the area.
To a question, he said KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak did not attend the National Security Conference on the direction of Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
When asked whether his party would take part in PTI’s ‘Azadi’ march, he said the matter would be decided after August 10, while terming the imposition of Article 245 in Islamabad non-political.
SHERPAO LAUDS PM’S EFFORTS:
Speaking to reporters, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) President Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that during the conference, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not try to get any political mileage and merely advocated the supremacy of the constitution and democracy.
Later, talking to PTV, Sherpao said Khan had no evidence to substantiate his demand for mid-term elections.
He criticised the PTI chief for hurling personal allegations against the PM and advised that he should confine his comments to politics. He said Khan’s million-man march and subsequent sit-in would disrupt business activity in Islamabad, adding that it is time to focus on resolving the country’s energy and economic issues instead of making the whole nation hostage by protests.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Farooq Sattar told reporters that all parties were unanimous on the inevitability of the military operation in NWA and elimination of terrorism.
He said his party called for early culmination of the operation and rehabilitation of IDPs in their native areas.
Regarding imposition of Article 245, he said the government needed a constitutional cover to deploy military in Islamabad to avert any blowback of the ongoing military operation.
Sattar advised political parties to respect the constitution and avoid engaging in activities that threaten the democratic system.
He lauded the PM’s invitation to PTI leadership for dialogue but criticised the government’s crackdown against Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers in Lahore and other cities.
