Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Sirajul Haq has said that peace talks with Taliban could restart even during the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb if the government intends to end the deadlock. In an exclusive interview with Business Recorder, the JI chief said that the government had the capacity and resources to resume the stalled negotiations with Taliban fighters.
"For the government, it is not a big issue to resurrect the talks with Taliban," he said, adding that the government should take over the operation that continued against the militants. Siraj said that over a decade-long insurgency that plagued the country with the invasion of the US and its allies on Afghanistan after 9/11 should end permanently.
He said that the Taliban insurgency and military operations had badly affected the people of FATA and left thousands of children out of schools. About rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Waziristan, he said that the process did not seem to be completed early. "Schooling system has collapsed, children are without education and the honour of tribesmen is tarnished for being homeless," he added.
On ties with the federal government, he felt that the relations between THE federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had grown 'cold', as the Centre's focus was more on Punjab in terms of funds and uplift schemes. The JI chief remained selective with words to express his disappointment over the federal government's discrimination towards his province.
"In the beginning, relations with the Centre were warm but with the passage of time they have become cold," he said to a question. He said that the federal government was not paying electricity royalty to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing financial troubles for the war-hit province. Showing a clear dejection, he said, the federal government was feeding one province - Punjab - with funds and ignoring all the three other federating units.
"If Turkish, Chinese or other companies can invest in Punjab, then why not such investment can be made in other provinces," he questioned the federal government's attitude as a custodian of the federation. "The federal government owes over Rs 375 billion to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on account of electricity royalty," he said, adding that provision of funds to KP could help the province overcome its financial problems.
Siraj said that the country's Constitution ensured good relations between the provinces and the Centre and the federal government had to prove its role through ensuring rights and providing funds to all provinces indiscriminately. About JI Bangladeshi leaders' death sentences on 1971 war crime charges, he said that the government's response to the injustice was disappointing.
"World Islamic movements are already going through hostile circumstances and therefore are unable to concentrate and support their fraternities in other countries. It is unfortunate," he replied to a question. He justified Imran Khan's demands for free, fair and transparent polls in the country. However, he said that elections should be held after introducing fresh electoral reforms. "Without reforms, there could be no better outcome of any polls whether they are midterm or general," he added.
Siraj also called for ensuring fair elections in Karachi, saying the city's electoral mandate was still disturbed. "Karachi is not in order, everyone - rich or poor - are facing troubles in the form of lawlessness, crime, extortion and kidnapping for ransom," he added. When asked, he said that the government should take initiative in talks with Imran Khan, as it was in power and responsibility largely lied on it to end the deadlock.
"I think both government and Imran Khan are willing to end the impasse," he observed, saying "the JI is only mediating to end the crisis and its role ends with bringing both parties to the negotiation table". He said that his party's coalition government with PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was doing well. He said that the KP government was making policies to establish a uniform education system across the province.
"Crime rate in the province has fallen sharply in recent months, while the public has now greater access to the government officials and departments," he added. "Jamaat-e-Islami is holding a historic congregation in Lahore, which will start on February 21," he said, adding that a separate space has been allocated for participants from religious minorities. "The congregation will upstage all the previous gatherings in Lahore with mammoth participation from public including Muslims and non-Muslims and will pave the way for revolution to salvage the humanity from long-suffering," the JI Chief asserted.
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