ISLAMABAD, May 15 The PML-N's central leadership keeps changing its stance on the Swat military operation.

Many a time it has given an impression as if it completely supports the government, but given the speeches of Khwaja Saad Rafique and Javed Hashmi in National Assembly, it seems the PML-N does not fully stand behind the government.

Background interviews with political analysts and legislators of various political parties suggest that PML-N neither wants to be dubbed as a pro-Islamists party nor interested in to be presented as an outright supporter of the use of military force in the troubled valley.

During his speech in the National Assembly the opposition leader Chaudhary Nisar Ali said though they had not been taken onboard, his party stood with the ruling coalition to bring peace and normalcy to Swat.

Similarly, Mian Nawaz Sharif was the first high profile political personality to visit camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mardan.

However, Khawaja Saad Rafique in his speech in NA on May 13 came hard on both military and political leadership for the 'mess' in Swat. He termed the National Assembly as a debating club where people only come to hone their public speaking skills because the decision making was done some where else.

On Thursday, Mr Hashmi, too, spoke against the military action. Now, the government has called an All Parties Conference when it had already opted for the last resort. “What good this conference will bring for people of Swat who have already been made homeless and forced to live under miserable conditions”, Mr Hashmi argued.

“When the government had failed to bring peace to the valley of Swat, it should have asked opposition for help. Instead, it went for an all out war. If allowed, even now I am ready to talk to Taliban so that some solution could be found out,” Mr Hashmi added.

When contacted, Senior Vice President of the PML-N Mamnoon Husain, said although party supported Swat military operation it had some reservations over the government's decision to use military force against Taliban. PML-N believes in dialogue, dialogue and dialogue, he reiterated.

“It would have been more appropriate had the government consulted opposition on Swat operation which was launched in haste without realizing its repercussions the government is facing in the form of massive migration from troubled areas,” he said.

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