Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Siraj-ul-Haq on Tuesday termed the Afghanistan peace deal as a 'defeat' of the US, saying that Pakistan should step up its support to the Afghans for perpetuating peace and stability in the war-torn country.
Talking exclusively to Business Recorder at Idra Noor-e-Haq here, he said that Taliban have emerged triumphant in the long-running bloodshed in Afghanistan against the invading US and its war-monger allies, with the superpower escaping the ridged country. "It is a historic moment and chance for peace which should not wasted," he said, adding that the US is seeking a safe exit from a war it implicated the whole world into soon after the 9/11 incident.
"Now defeat is on the face of US as she is sitting at a negotiation table with Afghan Taliban," he said, adding that every Afghan is a war hero, who inflicted a defeat on the US during the nerve-wrecking battle that spanned for about 18 years.
The US becomes the third world power, who bit the dust in Afghanistan. "Unfortunately, the world did not give credit to Afghans for their resistance against the US the way they eulogized Vietnamese in a similar war," Haq said, adding that the dying war will however annoy the military hardware producing nations since their trade has to scale back after the US exit.
He also saw the West as suspicious about the JI, which according to him, kept blocking its ways to taking over power of the country, saying that "the world establishment is also against the JI for its global agenda as it supports the Palestinian cause, [former ousted President of Egypt] Morsi, Kashmir independence movement or any such other drive". He called the western suspicion that made it proactive against the JI a reason keeping his party far from power. "All battlefields are the Muslim countries, from Afghanistan to Syria," the JI Chief showed worries.
About the Pushtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), he said that the existing system is triggering sentiments of ethnicity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, though he called the PTM spearhead - Manzoor Pashteen a 'reality'. "The policy enforced in the area is creating discontentment among public there," he observed, adding that the people are in trouble. "Manzoor is a young man, not highly educated, not a religious scholar, neither a political representative but he is a reality," he said.
The policy being enforced in the areas, where the PTM is deepening its roots, is primarily responsible for growing Pushtun nationalism, he lamented. "The top political leadership are now out of the assemblies, who could have been a voice to stem not only violence but also anti-state sentiments.
"Everyday such a thing happens that stirs up sentiments every day," he said, adding that the missing persons' case was first brought to limelight by the JI and still it seeks a solution to the dispute. "It is shameful if someone is missing in a democratic and civilized society," he said.
Regarding the reversal of 18th Constitutional Amendment, Haq said, "I don't think that the PTI will really go after it," to abrogate the amendment, adding that "this government will not take such a big risk". He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also a beneficiary of the 18th Constitutional Amendment - a province the PTI is ruling for the second consecutive term.
To a question on toppling the PTI government, he said, that the opposition in the National Assembly is in tatters taking away a chance to pull down the prime minister but the JI will not become a part to any such move to destabilize or dethrone the ruler.
"The PTI's negative image is not because of the opposition any drive rather its own mistakes," he said, adding, "We [JI] are unbiased and want the PTI to continue its government for five years". He however criticized the PTI government for its economic plans that shattered the country's already poor economy, saying that "for economic growth, no solution is in sight". He also opposed to the holding of a midterm election, saying that the PTI should be given a chance to complete its five-year-term.
A question was asked about Nawaz Sharif corruption, Haq avoided to name directly the former disqualified premier and confined his expression to saying that the entire system has made every department in the country corrupt. However, he said that his party filed a petition on Panama Papers in apex court not only against Nawaz Sharif but about 436 people named in the leaks for their offshore companies. "Nawaz Sharif was not disqualified on the JI's petition on Panama Papers rather on the issue related to his son's company in Dubai for not drawing salaries," he said.
On voting to Raja Zafar-ul-Haq - senior PML-N leader for senate chairmanship, he said that it was under a deal with five conditions that the JI had placed before him if wanted to get some support in the upper house polls. Going to the Supreme Court on Panama Papers leaks against the PML-N leadership - Nawaz Sharif and that voting to Raja Zafar-ul-Haq was completely a different case scenario. "The JI voted to Raja Zafar-ul-Haq on a personal basis and not on a party basis".
"How could the JI vote to someone [Sadiq Sanjrani] who we and others did not know? We had just one option as abstaining from voting would not be a good decision," he said, adding the Sadiq Sanjrani has however emerged a nice person who takes along the opposition and governs the Senate in a better way. "Now we know him better," he said.
Lastly, Chief of JI also made it clear that his party is no longer a part of the politico-religio alliance - Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) since the coalition was formed for contesting general election on single platform. Now, the elections phase has now been over, he said that the JI has decided to carry out its political agenda all alone from its original platform under its flag and with symbol.