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| India-Pakistan |
| NWFP lawmakers seek end to Swat, Fata operations |
| 2008-12-24 |
| Legislators in the NWFP Assembly on Tuesday expressed concern over the growing incidents of lawlessness and deaths of innocent people, asking the government to stop military operations in the province and Fata and resolve the problems through dialogue. Thirteen members from various political parties took part in the discussion on law and order and almost all of them were unanimous in their views, suggesting to the government that use of force would never help resolve the problems in Fata and Swat. They asked the government to constitute a peace committee to review the situation and enforce Shariah, which was a longstanding demand of the people of the Swat valley.ANP MPA from Swat Dr Haider Ali observed that a war has been imposed on the people of the valley and their soil has been declared a war zone. He said Pakhtuns had great responsibilities and they should jointly work to change the mindset of the world, which had painted Pakhtuns as terrorists under a conspiracy. Mufti Janan of the JUI-F said the lives and properties of the citizens were not secure and the government has lost its writ. "Teachers, doctors and government and other organisations' employees are not attending their offices. Innocent people are being killed in the name of operation and everyone feels insecure." He asked why the innocent people and their properties were being destroyed and why misunderstanding was being created between police and the Army? Dr Khalid Raza Zakori said Europe and America wanted to usurp their independence, integrity and nuclear assets. If the situation remained the same, he said, the country would drift towards a civil war. Muhammad Anwar Khan of the PPP asked the government to hold negotiations with the militants and constitute peace committees to bring peace to the troubled areas.He also asked the government to enforce Shariah in Swat, a longstanding demand of the people of the valley. Shagufta Malik of the ANP said her party did not believe in politics of violence and all political forces should join hands to find out a permanent solution to the prevailing crisis.Shamsher Ali Khan, also from the ANP, said the militants were killing people in the name of Islam, while the security personnel were doing the same in the name of operation. Hafiz Akhtar Ali of the JUI-F asked the provincial government to ask the federal government to stop operation in Fata and Swat. "The government should also fulfil its promise with Sufi Muhammad and enforce Shariah in the Malakand division." Waqar Ahmad Khan of the ANP demanded formation of a joint inquiry commission to weigh factors behind the unrest in the region. He held the previous MMA government responsible for the existing crisis in the country and the NWFP. Atifur Rehman, another ANP MPA, criticised police for usually carrying out body search of common citizens, but they could not check activities of criminals. He also underlined the need for a joint action to curb corruption. Maulvi Obaidullah, an independent lawmaker from Kohistan, said the government should shun the policies of Musharraf and stop the inflow of Indian literature and culture, as it would ruin our coming generations. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 and the GPS coordinates of the Assembly are? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-12-24 01:11 |