APC resolution: ‘Govt must delink itself from US war’

PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution during an all parties’ conference, recommending that the central government withdraw its support for the American war on terror. In the wake of the latest spate of terror attacks in the provincial capital, JI decided to convene an APC on the law and order situation. Several leading political outfits such as the Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) atended the APC. Hwoever, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz did not attend the moot. The groupings that attended the APC also urged the federal government to announce a dialogue team to start negotiations with Taliban without any further delay. The resolution adopted at the meeting urged the federal government to try and bring all armed groups on the table for talks. Special arrangements should be made for the security of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, it said. It asked the centre to announce special funds for infrastructure rehabilitation in these areas, and demanded the establishment of a foundation for the rehabilitation of terrorism affected people. Demand for effective steps regarding security of the religious places for minorities was also made. It was pointed out during the conference that none of the previously passed resolutions at high level government echelons were implemented, and it is feared that the September 9 APC which mandated the Centre for starting dialogue process with Taliban will meet the same fate. JI leader Professor Muhammad Ibrahim while talking to the media after APC said, “Security forces and Taliban are the real stakeholders in the issue.” K-P economy is getting badly affected by the so-called war on terror and we need to get rid of it, he added. ANP leader Mian Iftikhar said that it is a good tradition that people holding various views jointly sit in APC. “Now there should be an effective dialogue with militants and the incumbent government should take action on this as it has no other option.” JUI-S Amir Maulana Yusuf Shah said, “If America can, then why cannot we carry out dialogue with the Taliban.” JUI-F’s Jalil Jan said that dialogue process should start without placing any conditions. “Taliban are asked to act as per the constitution, but there are many others in the country who fail to do so.” Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.