LAHORE: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has claimed that drones are still flying over tribal areas despite what he said clear orders issued by the chief of the army staff to shoot any intruding aircraft after the Mohmand Agency incident.
“We have reliably learnt that drones are still flying over Waziristan even after the Nato air strike and orders issued by the army chief to shoot them down as soon as they enter and violate Pakistan’s airspace in future,” the JUI-F chief responded to a query when asked as to how he would prove his information as credible at a press conference at Alhamra Arts Council here on Tuesday
He said after a detailed deliberation in various sessions of a three-day consultative meeting, the JUI-F leadership had reached a consensus to demand of the government to immediately rescind hidden accords made with the United States and India during Musharraf’s regime.
“We demand of the government to immediately rescind all such hidden agreements that put the country’s sovereignty at stake,” he said.
“The agreements, which have no record in black and white, not only led to the death of 35,000 innocent people in the ensuing war against terror but also caused financial loss of $80 billion. We consider it not only a sensitive national issue but also an offence,” he added.
Rehman said that in 2001, the then government had made two accords, one with the United States about war on terror and second with India about Kashmir issue that consisted of four points.
He said his party questioned the government as to why it became a US ally and started working on Kashmir issue despite knowing that no record relating to aforementioned agreements existed.
He said his party had also decided to continue having dialogue to revive Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal as it had produced good results in the past. “We have reached a final stage to revive the MMA,” Mr Rehman responded when asked about the results of continued dialogue/meeting in this regard.
The JUI-F chief said the party leadership had also decided to support the ongoing movements in favour of creation of Seraiki and Hazara provinces. He said his party also considered the demand for the restoration of Bahawalpur province as justified.
While responding to another query relating to government’s consultation with the National Kashmir Committee while awarding Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, he said he, being chairman of the committee, had called the trade and commerce minister in a scheduled meeting of the committee on Dec 29 in order to know the grounds on which the government had made this decision.
When asked as to why the JUI-F didn’t participate in Difa-i-Pakistan Conference at Minar-i-Pakistan on December 18 despite receiving invitation as claimed by organisers, Mr Rehman said his party didn’t receive any invitation from Difa-i-Pakistan Council.
The JUI chief, however, avoided commenting on the alleged role of establishment in boosting the rallies being organised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
He also didn’t comment on reports linking President Zardari’s return with a prolonged meeting held between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the chief of army staff the other day.
He said his party had also decided to declare 2012 as Sheikh-ul-Hind Year. “During 2012, we will hold seminars in order to pay tribute to Sheikhul Hind Maulana Mahmoodul Hasan,” he said.
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