Nationwide agitation planned, says Fazl: MMA council to meet on 19th
By Bashir Ahmad
BANNU, Dec 7: Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly and chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) would adopt a strategy for country-wide agitation against the government in its supreme council meeting on Dec 19.
Talking to journalists during a visit to Bannu on Wednesday, Maulana Fazl said that the alliance would continue to oppose the policies of the military government at every forum. A future line of action against the government would be chalked out on the 19th, he said, adding that JUI-F’s Majlis-i-Shura would meet on the 13th and 14th of this month to protest against the government’s policies.
He said that the killing of tribesmen in the name of operation against militants was part of a conspiracy to provoke innocent tribal people against the government.
He said that the missile attack on a residential compound in Mirali tehsil belied the government’s claim that the suspects were killed while they were making explosives inside the house.
He said that shrapnel and pieces of the missile found by local residents were indisputable proof that the tribesmen were killed in a US missile attack.
He said that the missile was fired from an unmanned air vehicle and the Americans have also verified that the missile was of US make and that it was fired from a drone.
Maulana Fazlur said that on the one hand the government was fooling the tribal people in the name of development projects while on the other they were being killed in the name of an operation against militants.
He called for an immediate halt to the military operation in North and South Waziristan agencies.
He said that the MMA would never give in to the decisions taken by an individual.
He said that religious parties would continue to raise their voice against the government and oppose its policies.
The opposition leader said that a major portion of foreign donations raised for the relief and rehabilitation of earthquake-affected people comprised pledges and loans, and added that this was due to lack of confidence in the military government by foreign countries.