PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl deputy provincial chief Maulana Attaur Rehman on Saturday said military operation seemed imminent in North Waziristan Agency in light of the ‘mood’ of the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s negotiation committees for peace.

He was briefing reporters here at the JUI-F central headquarters about the decisions taken during meetings of the party’s core committee held on Friday.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had presided over the meeting on the prevailing political and security situation in the country.

Mr Atta said the government and the TTP had held talks in Malakand in 2008-09, which ultimately resulted in military operation.

“The ongoing talks between the two sides will remain inconclusive and it seems that military action is imminent in the tribal areas,” he said. He, however, warned that the army action in North Waziristan Agency would be catastrophic for the country that would create multiple problems.

The JUI-F leader said the government had begun talks without proper homework. The JUI-F is a coalition partner of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the centre but has kept itself from the negotiations between the government and TTP.

“It seems that the government is just passing time and making preparations for military action,” said Mr Rehman, adding that the TTP-government talks could be productive if both sides showed seriousness in their efforts for peace. He criticised the recently-unveiled National Security Policy saying it was part of a conspiracy against madrassahs.

The JUI-F leader said his party was committed to protecting religious educational institutions and therefore, it would stage a sit-in in Peshawar for the purpose on March 27.

He said the protest would later be extended to other parts of the country. — Bureau Report