PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday blamed the ‘powers that be’ for turmoil in Fata and said those powers wanted to begin military operation in North Waziristan instead of resolving the issue through dialogue.

Speaking at a tribal jirga, Mr Fazl said only one institution was trying to impose its decision on the entire nation and even didn’t care about the joint resolutions of parliament and All-Party Conference.

He said the military operation against terrorists was eyewash and that the real action had been launched against tribesmen.

“JUI is being victimised for opposing military operation in North Waziristan,” he said.

Says Fata people being ridiculed at security checkpoints

The JUI-F chief came down heavily on security forces for ‘ill-treating’ the Fata people and alleged that common man in the region was ridiculed at the military’s checkpoints.

“I challenge them (security forces to show a single terrorist, who has been arrested at army checkpoints,” he said.

Mr Fazl said security personnel were forcing people to crawl under vehicles at checkpoints.

He said ulema had de-radicalised thousands of would-be suicide bombers but their contribution hadn’t been acknowledged.

The JUI-F chief said preparations for a full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan had been finalised and that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given a serious statement that he gave one chance to peace by initiating talks with the Taliban.

He said the government was not sincere about restoration of peace through talks and that was why his party didn’t join the process.

Mr Fazl said his party didn’t favour talks between the government and Taliban committees as political forces gave mandate for the same to the tribal jirga, which was formed in 2012.

He said he was sure peace talks won’t succeed but even then, he didn’t oppose the process.

“The reason for annoyance of powers that be is that JUI wants to engage tribal jirga in peace talks with the Taliban, which is not acceptable to one institution,” he said.

The JUI-F chief said his party was ‘punished’ in general elections for principled stand on the matter.

He said he was trying to bring religious forces to a single platform and would soon meet leaders of religious parties for the purpose.

The jirga, where Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, Pakistan People’s Party leader Rahimdad Khan, MNAs, MPAs and tribal Maliks were in attendance, unanimously passed a resolution demanding that the government announce a special package for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons and reconstruct damaged infrastructure in tribal areas.

It passed another resolution condemning the recent military operation in Mirali and Miramshah and asking the government to begin meaningful talks with the Taliban for peace.

The participants agreed that tribal jirga should be engaged in talks.

They also condemned the killing of Malik Qadir Khan and other tribal elders, who had begun efforts for restoration of peace in Fata.

Published in Dawn, May 31th, 2014