PESHAWAR, Oct 12: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad has asked the federal government to desist from encouraging the phenomenon of raising Lashkars in tribal belt as it will not only undermine government’s writ but also trigger a civil war in tribal society.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, he said that JI was ready to act as mediator in Bajaur where security forces had been fighting against pro-Taliban elements. He said JI had popular support in Bajaur and could arrange talks with the local Taliban.

The JI chief said that he held a meeting with Prime Minister’s Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik in Islamabad on Sunday and discussed with him the prevailing situation in tribal region.

“I advised him that raising Lashkars would create more complications for the government and weaken the state’s writ in the region,” Qazi said, adding that his party could make endeavors to start mediation in Bajaur region.

He believed that suicide attack on jirga in Orakzai region was might be reaction to the formation of Lashkar. He asked government to give up Pervez Musharraf’s pro-America policies and work out new policies in accordance with the wishes of the masses.

Qazi said that government could not resolve those issues through use of force so it should start negotiations with the stakeholders. He said that government should establish contacts with influential people in Fata instead of organising Lashkars.

He said United Kingdom and other European countries had realised that military operations could not provide viable solution for lasting peace and wanted to hold talks with all stakeholders in Afghanistan.

“Only the United States of America opposes dialogues,” he remarked, adding that Pakistan had plunged into crises because of America. He claimed that the USA wanted to establish military bases in Bajaur and destroy Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

He asked government to bank on its own people, who had been the defender of the country for the last 60 years. He claimed that the US wanted to destroy tribal people on the one or the other pretext to impose its hegemony in the region.

Meanwhile, JI provincial chief Sirajul Haq has criticised the government policy of organising Lashkars in Fata and settled areas of NWFP. In a press release issued on Sunday, he said that government on one hand was preaching about peace talks while on the other hand Kalashnikov rifles were being distributed among the citizens.

He said that federal and provincial governments should focus on poverty and unemployment instead of distributing unlicensed weapons among the people. He termed it a conspiracy against Pakhtuns and alleged that government had allowed US forces to conduct operation in Swat and Bajaur.

Siraj said that JI would not ask government to resign but ruling parties should take steps to pull the country out of the crises. He said that Jamaat would hold big rally in Lahore on Oct 24 and would recommend suggestions for resolving the prevailing situation.