KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Tuesday that increasing terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan have raised serious security concerns, with 57 attacks reported in KP alone.

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters Idara Noor-i-Haq, he said the situation is deteriorating and there’s a need for a clear strategy to address the crisis.

The JI chief opined that the security challenges in the country intensified after Pakistan aligned with the United States, adding that former President General Pervez Musharraf’s decision to support the US without consulting national stakeholders has had long-term consequences.

Both civilians and military personnel have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, he deplored.

A military operation is not a permanent solution, he maintained and suggested that a well-defined policy is required. Moreover, the JI chief said normalising relations with Afghanistan is essential, and Kabul must ensure that its territory is not used against Pakistan.

The frequency of attacks in KP, including 27 incidents within 24 hours, underscores the urgency of restoring peace, Hafiz Naeem said, adding that in Balochistan, the latest terrorist incident has been described as a failure of governance. Besides, the growing distrust among the Baloch population is another critical issue, he remarked.

The JI chief warned that if the ruling authorities do not take the matters seriously, the situation could worsen. A national-level Balochistan conference is scheduled for April 14 in Islamabad, where a comprehensive charter will be presented, he said.

Criticising the ruling party in the province, he said Sindh is facing challenges related to its irrigation system, with the PPP actively involved in canal development. Each province’s water quota is pre-determined, but corporate farming is emerging as a collaboration between urban and rural elites, he added.

Law and order in Sindh’s katcha area also remains a concern, with criminal activities increasing while PPP continues to secure its interests with the establishment, he claimed.

Rising inflation has further strained the public, he said, adding that while official advertisements paint a different picture.

Hafiz Naeem said that despite growing economic pressures, privileges for the ruling class continue to expand. Electricity bills should be reduced, and small industries require promotion. A public-friendly solar policy is needed to address the energy crisis, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025