Opposition supports govt on NWA operation

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the National Assembly showed their impartial support to the government on full-flagged military operation in North Waziristan Agency. Leader of the opposition in NA, Syed Khurshid Shah, on Monday, said it should continue till elimination of the last terrorist in the area. Responding to the policy statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the lower house, he asked the government to announce timeframe for the operation. “We must not be afraid of terrorists. No army, having backing of the people, could lose a war,” said Shah. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has the right to hold public meetings as peaceful and democratic protests help strengthen the democracy. Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament house later, PTI chief Imran Khan said that the prime minister should have taken all the parties onboard before the announcement of the operation. He said that the PTI supported the government in its initiative to start dialogue with Taliban and now it can also give its suggestions for the success of the military offensive. “I will live and die inside Pakistan,” said Khan, adding that the government should have taken him onboard. “As chief executive of the country, PM Sharif should have announced the decision of the operation launch and not the ISPR,” said the PTI chief. Khan said that the federal government should take Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government onboard, which will have to manage 0.7 million refugees from the North Waziristan. He suggested that the premier should call a meeting of the opposition leaders to share the details of the government’s strategy on the operation. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar described the operation as a “sagacious decision by the government.” “The parliament and all four provincial assemblies should extend every possible support to the federal government and the armed forces to make the operation a success,” he added. Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said it will be difficult for the affected people to leave their areas amid operation during the ongoing summer season. He stressed that the government should take steps to provide relief to the internally displaced people (IDPs) who will be affected due to the military operation against militants. Federal Minister for Defense, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the decision of the 80’s to provide safe heavens to militants, created a lot of problems for the nation. He said that the foreigners destroyed the local culture and values owing to their influence in the tribal region. The minister requested the media to avoid declaring militants as ‘heroes’ or party against the state.