Islamabad:
The PML-N and the PPP denied Sunday to sign a statement adopted by a conference of all parties (APC) that, among other things, demanded to stop immediately to all military operations and described terrorism, extremism and illegality as a result of poor government policies.
The APC was convened in the Federal Capital by the ANP, all the main political parties attended.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief of ANP, Aimal Wali Khan, said that there are people in Waziristan, a district that has witnessed several military operations in the last two decades, who have not returned home for 12 years. He said such a situation could not be called development.
Khan said his party is not against Punjab and is pro-pakistan. “But Pakistan does not give us equal rights. Ask for our rights should not be seen as against Pakistan,” he added.
The Chief of Jui-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said that there is an interrogation sign on the country’s political and parliamentary system, since the current government is not representative of the people but a government of the establishment. “Our peaceful protests and marches are described as rebellion, this is what pushes the movements towards the revolt,” he said.
The QWP chief, AFTAB Khan Sherpao, said the government, not the establishment, should carry out negotiations with the opposition. “If direct conversations are held, the Parliament will overlook. The prime minister must call a meeting and include representatives of the establishment.”
PML-N leader, Irfan Siddiqui, supported Fazl’s call for a national dialogue, added that martial laws and dictators have emptied the State. However, he questioned whether politicians’ hands were also clean.
“This same army has defeated an enemy five times its size. If the martial law really were in place, such conferences would not even be possible.
“Pakistan will survive, the four provinces will last, no one will be allowed to undermine the Constitution. The Army sees Pakistan from a Pakistani perspective,” he said.
However, a joint statement presented at the APC caused a division between political parties. The PML-N and the PPP opposed the statement, refused to sign it and boycotted the press conference.
The statement described continuous disturbances, terrorism and the violation of rights in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Baluchistan as a result of failed state policies, stressing that peace and sustainable progress in Pakistan cannot be achieved without democracy, supremacy of the constitution and provincial rights.
He demanded to stop all military operations in the KP and Baluchistan and establish a truth commission under judicial supervision to investigate human and financial losses.
The statement described terrorism, extremism and illegality as results of poor government policies, asking for comprehensive measures to eliminate them. He asked to dissolve all the alleged “death squads” and illegal armed groups, ensuring the protection of life and property of citizens.
He requested the recognition of the rights of the provinces on minerals and online resources with the 18th constitutional amendment and rejected the proposal to merge the strength of the taxes in the police in Baluchistan, asking instead of their modernization.
The declaration also required the transfer of all powers in the tribal districts fused to the Civil Administration and the abolition of laws such as “Action in Civil Power.”
He described the forced disappearances as shameless violations of the Constitution, demanding the recovery and production of all disappeared persons before the courts.
He also requested the release of all “political prisoners” and the provision of a free environment for political activities. The APC also demanded the immediate dissolution of unconstitutional agencies, “particularly the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SFC).”
He also requested to repeal unfair laws such as 3-MPO and the fourth schedule and condemned the Government for not arresting the murderers of the leaders of ANP Maulana Khanzeb, Munir Munir Shakir and other martyrs.
Demanded the rehabilitation of the areas affected by terrorism and operation, together with the return of the internal displaced persons (IDP) and the provision of compensation, jobs and commercial opportunities.
Nayyar Hussain Bukhari of PPP, Irfan Siddiqui of PML-N and the Federal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, refused to sign. “These are their demands, not ours and we cannot support them,” said Siddiqui. However, the MQM, the PML-Q and other parts supported the statement.
Participants also expressed pain for natural disasters and devastating floods in the KP. In the light of the situation, the “March of La Paz” of Islamabad scheduled for August 23 against terrorism and military operations in KP was postponed.
