PESHAWAR: Chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday said Pakistan was being called a ‘battleground’ between China and America due to the wrong policies of the government.

“Regrettably, our country is being called a battlefield between China and US,” Mr Fazl told a condolence reference held for the party’s provincial chief and parliamentarian, Maulana Amanullah Khan, here.

Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial president Amir Muqam, Jamaat-i-Islami provincial chief and Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Pakistan People’s Party provincial president Humayun Khan, Qaumi Watan Party general secretary Hashim Babar, JUI-F general secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and leaders of other parties also spoke on the occasion.

Fazl claims PTI govt wasted over $35bn Chinese investment to please US

The speakers paid rich tribute to the deceased and eulogised his struggle for democracy and religion.

Coming down heavily on the ruling PTI over its policies, the JUI-F chief said the government had wasted over $35 billion Chinese investment to get the US blessings.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project was a game changer for the country but the government made it controversial and that the government was safeguarding the interests of the US and Jewish lobby.

Mr Fazl said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was declared a friend of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, while the sitting prime minister was talking about peace and friendship with the country’s archrival.

He said despite the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, the government received a cold response from New Delhi, who had rejected the offer of talks and friendship.

The JUI-F chief said the National Accountability Bureau was being used as a tool to victimise political opponents of the government.

He said the PTI had abolished its own Ehtesab Commission in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Fazl said his party had demanded the abolition of the NAB during discussion on 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010 but the PPP and PML-N did not support the demand.

“Now, let these two parties bear the consequences,” he said in a lighter vein.

The JUI-F chief said parliament could do away with the NAB if the KP government amended the law to abolish the Ehtesab Commission.

He said military ruler Pervez Musharraf had created NAB to blackmail politicians and that he had opposed the move at that time, too.

Mr Fazl said a group of corrupt elements could not hold fair accountability of others.

He said his party was fighting to liberate the country from foreign powers and their agents.

“We will take our fight to its logical end to get real freedom,” he said adding that the successive governments did not make decisions independently and were dictated by foreign powers.

He said the supremacy of the Constitution would bring social, political and economic stability in the country.

The JUI-F chief said foreign agents were trying to distort the image of Pakistan.

He alleged that Britain continued to treat Pakistan as its colony and that the acquittal of Christian woman Asia Bibi in a blasphemy case proved his apprehension in that respect.

Addressing the reference, ANP leader Main Iftikhar Hussain alleged that the establishment was patronising Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He said the PTI government would collapse in the centre if the establishment withdrew its support.

The ANP leader called for unity among opposition parties, especially PPP and PML-N.

He said all corrupt men had joined the PTI to protect their ill-gotten wealth and political careers.

Mr Hussain said Premier Imran Khan had been installed to bring changes to the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

He demanded more autonomy for provinces to strengthen federation instead of the rollback if the 18th Amendment.

The ANP leader urged Pakistan, big powers and other neighbours to play their role for the political settlement of the Afghan issue.

He said neighbours and big powers should not waste the ‘golden opportunity’ to end war in Afghanistan as the US had given clear indication of withdrawing its forces from the war-torn country.

Mr Hussain also appealed to Maulana Fazl and Asfandyar Wali to use their influence to pave the way for a peaceful solution of Afghan war.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2019