ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged parliament to hold a dialogue with the “people of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” to address their security concerns.
Fazl’s suggestion comes amid a precarious security situation in Balochistan after the deadly terrorist attacks on August 26 and discontent over the enforced disappearances issue.
Terrorist attacks across the country surged to 59 in the month of August, compared to July’s 38, according to a digital database maintained by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think-tank. The majority of the attacks occurred in KP and Balochistan.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly today, Fazl said: “I still believe that if the parliament is requested to step forward and go and talk to the people of Balochistan and KP, then the situation can be reverted to normal.”
He said that the “government’s writ in Balochistan and KP had ended due to unrest” and that “armed elements are ruling there and collecting taxes”.“They are visiting the villages, patrolling the streets, and are armed with rocket launchers and special equipment,” he added.
Referring to the August 26 attacks, the JUI-F chief said the parliament was “not taking matters seriously” and went on to criticise the treasury and opposition benches for their frequent heated exchanges.
Over the last two weeks, Fazl has met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and a PTI delegation as both sides attempt to curry favour with the senior poltician.
“One party (opposition) goes to the extent that they start talking about separation [from Parliament]. On the other side as well (government), they made statements such as ‘we are ready to deal with them with force and we are ready to go to every extent for the state’s protection’,” Fazl said.
“The importance of politicians is being eliminated today. Renowned, knowledgeable, experienced, and senior [political] leadership is being sidelined,” he said, adding that new politicians replacing them have no experience.
“Becoming Faisalabad’s clocktower and Amrat Dhara (cure-all) yourself can perhaps be a wish but never the solution to the issue,” Fazl quipped.
He wondered whether the “government had the ability and power to make decisions on its own”. “There cannot be a bigger mistake than considering the Parliament, political parties, and politicians unnecessary for the country,” the JUI-F leader said.
