As the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to take the nation and the political leadership into confidence on Monday (today) about the military operation in North Waziristan against the militants, the decision received mixed reaction from political parties of the country. Insiders in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that the Prime Minister would take the National Assembly into confidence on Monday about the military operation Zarb-e-Azb launched in North Waziristan Agency against the foreign and local militants.
They said that the Prime Minster would also meet the leadership of various political parties in order to taken them into confidence about the decision. The decision of launching the long-awaited military operation in North Waziristan, however, received a mixed response from the political parties.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah, who is also central leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), backed the government's decision, saying that his party supports the move. However, he urged the Prime Minister to take the Parliament into confidence regarding the operation.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain through a statement supported the military operation against the militants, saying Pakistan and the terrorists cannot go together. He also urged all the peace-loving countrymen to play their active role to save Pakistan. He further said that MQM is against the terrorism of all its kinds.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) termed the government decision as "shameful" and decided to convene emergency meeting of its core committee on Monday to give its response. "Shameful... how Prime Minister failed to take political leadership into confidence about the North Waziristan military operation," Shireen Marzai, PTI central secretary-information twitted.
Giving his party's response, Jamait Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) spokesperson Jan Achakzai said that operation in North Waziristan will not end terrorism in the country unless a clear policy against militancy is adopted.
In a statement issued here, he said that that if the operation has limited aim to target certain militants while leaving other groups who are operating and sustaining militancy infrastructure of terrorism in the country intact, the issue will not be resolved.
He said that government simply did not understand the fact that no matter how many tactical operations are carried out, they will not end the militant landscape in the country. "Until and unless, a clear policy at strategic, ideological, political and foreign policy levels is adopted and backed up by concerted steps, we will see more of the same," Achakzai said.
He added that in the past many successful tactical operations were carried out but due to "revolving door phenomenon" militants simply moved from on area to other areas strategically defeating our muscular policy.
"We need to address militancy in all shape and colour rather than focusing on particularly group of militants so as to restore the writ of the government in very corner of the country," he added.
He said that denying space to militants in Waziristan will not end terrorism in the country as militant landscape sustaining terrorism will remain. On tactical level, as seen in Karachi, we have not improved policing and civilian laws enforcement capabilities, he added.
He said that flawed dialogue mechanism led to Hafiz Gul Bahadur's estrangement and IDPs moving to Afghanistan and creating more proxies. He said that the JUI-F is of the opinion that there are still groups who want to peacefully surrender.
He criticised the government for not taking political parties into confidence on North Waziristan operation, adding the operation should be against terrorists and all efforts be made to ensure the safety of ordinary people and all out efforts be made for taking care of IDPs.
He said that piecemeal approach at the cost of holistic strategic policy frame work will not end terrorism in Pakistan.
Jamaat-i-Islami chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that the military operation would bring further complexities, adding that the government should have taken the political leadership into confidence prior to taking any decision.
Leader of the Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) Allama Raja Nasir Abbas in a statement issued here supported the government decision of launching military operation, saying the decision reflects the aspirations of the countrymen.
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