PTI chief criticised for `solo flight` JUI-F calls for another APC on Taliban talks
By Amir Wasim
2013-11-04
ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The Jamiat Ulema-iIslam-F asked the government on Sunday to convene another all-party conference to review the situation in the wake of the killing of TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud in a US drone attack, whereas Jamaat-i-Islami called for permanently stopping Nato supply.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said in a statement that the JUI-F would move its own resolution in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday to seek blockade of Nato supply. He, however, said that his party was ready to support the provincial PTI government if it issued an executive order to stop Nato supply.
He said the political leadership at the APC had adopted a national stance towards reconciliation and decided to hold talks with militants. Representatives of all parliamentaryparties had given a mandate to the government to take an initiative in this regard, he added.
`Now the drone attack has changed the situation. That is why we need a new APC to review the situation.
The JUI-F chief said drone attacks had increased instability in the country and undermined the national strategy about the dialogue with Taliban.
He criticised PTI chairman Imran Khan for his statement on Nato supply without consulting other parties and said his policy of `solo flight` would damage national unity which was required at the moment. He advised all parties against politicising the issue and the solo-flight approach.
He said the JUI-F had submitted a resolu-tion in the KP Assembly some time back linking Nato supply with drone attacks. But, he regretted, the PTI government did not support the resolution and deferred it. `Had that resolution been supported by the PTI government, it would have sent a strong message and the US would have not launched the attack,` he observed.
Meanwhile, JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan said at a news conference that the US was India`s friend and Pakistan`s enemy and the government and Taliban could give a befitting reply to Washington by making their talks successful.
He called for stopping Nato supply permanently and urged the government to continue its efforts to engage Taliban in the peace talks.
He criticised the statement of InformationMinister Pervez Rashid that drone attacks could not be stopped by blocking Nato supply.
`Is he the information minister of Pakistan or of the US?` he asked. He said it appeared that the government was reluctant to take a decision about stopping the Nato supplies.
In reply to a question, the JI chief said that since his party was a coalition partner of the PTI in the KP, it would support Imran Khan`s decision to stop Nato supplies.
He, however, said his party would ask the PTI to take such a decision only after consulting other parties since it was not a matter of one or two days.
Mr Hasan criticised the government for promulgating the Pakistan Protection Ordinance which, according to him, curbed fundamental rights of citizens.