PPP not first to cry foul on anti-terror drive

• Before Zardari’s anti-military tirade, JUI-F objected to NAP mentioning ‘religious terrorists’, MQM dubbed Karachi Operation ‘Muhajir specific’
• PPP’s Kaira claims Zardari’s words given ‘anti-army colour’, pledges party’s ‘ever-present’ support for armed forces

While the leadership of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) claims it is being targeted by the law enforcement agencies and armed forces in Karachi Operation, the military says that PPP is the third political outfit of the country to cry “victimisation” after the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

With the operation against terrorists and criminal gangs in full swing across country, questions have been raised by major political forces of Sindh – PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). However, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman was the first one to cry foul for including the term “religious terrorists” in 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) last year, pushing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government for ending reforms in religious seminaries.

Not only the JUI-F chief had resisted the action against terrorists but he had also gathered the leaders of all religio-political parties and Wafaq-ul-Madaris to preempt madrassa reforms. Consequently, the prime minister had to fall in line with the interior minister announcing that the government had no plans to reform the madrassas.

Later on, when the Karachi Operation gathered momentum, MQM – which had earlier called on the army chief to enforce a martial law and launch an operation to purge the city of terrorists – dubbed the operation to be “Mohajir-specific”.

Recently, PPP ended up as third in the lot with former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari pointing a finger at the military for “victimising” his party during the operation.

KAIRA DOWNPLAYS PPP-MILITARY TIFF:

Following his party co-chief’s tirade, PPP’s Secretary Information Qamar Zaman Kaira tried to play cool towards the army, rather lashing out at the federal government for giving Zardari’s speech an anti-army colour. He also reminded the ruling party that unlike PML-N, PPP had “always sided with the military”.

“It’s their (PML-N) leaders who targeted the army leadership, sacked army chiefs and also made hostile speeches in the parliament. Unlike PML-N, PPP has always stood by the Army. There is a need to fully understand the context of the former president’s speech,” Kaira asserted while addressing a press conference on Thursday.

Kaira blamed the political leaders for misconstruing Zardari’s statement “to make it more anti-establishment”. “PPP has always strengthened the national institution. Even when Bhutto was hanged, we blamed Ziaul Haq and his accomplices. We never blamed the institution,” he said.

Claiming that the former president had always lauded the army’s role in eliminating terrorism, Kaira said, “We have already said we don’t want any hurdles in the military operation. Why then would you think we would say something that is considered anti-establishment?”

‘INDISCRIMINATE OPERATION TO CONTINUE’:

On the other hand, the military leadership looks determined to take the Karachi Operation to its logical conclusion regardless of claims of victimisation and selective approach from some ethno-political parties.

A senior security official told Pakistan Today that there was no victimisation whatsoever of any political party, ethnic or religious group and the Rangers had been called in by the federal government with a clear task to purge the port city of Karachi from criminal gangs, their facilitators, financiers and facilitators.

“Only criminal gangs, mafia groups and terrorist organizations are being targeted in Karachi. In first phase, the hardcore criminals and terrorists were taken out. Now second phase of operation is focused on smashing their networks. Law enforcers are rounding up abettors, facilitators and financiers of the criminals and mafia gangs,” the official said.

“Soldiers are apolitical. The army chief has given clear instructions that this operation is apolitical and it would remain so. Moreover, we will make sure it should be across the board and it should also look like so,” the official added.

Asked what had prompted the PPP leadership to cry foul, the military official said he had no clue about it. “In past few days, we have netted some big fish which might have prompted reaction from the abettors of the criminals. The raid on Karachi Building Control Authority and arrest of Muhammad Ali Shaikh were important developments. The arrested suspects have provided important leads,” the official said, adding that more arrests were on cards.

“Since the operation began, Rangers have rounded up criminals linked to religious and terrorist outfits, political parties and gang war. However, only politicians have cried foul just to hide behind allegations. We have also arrested terrorists of TTP, Sunni Tehreek and other groups,” the official added, questioning as to why only PPP and MQM were complaining.