Govt failed to ensure civilian authority: Fazl

ISLAMABAD: Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUIF) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday came down harsh on the government for, what he said, its failure to ensure civilian authority in the country and end unrest in the House by addressing opposition’s concerns.

Speaking on a point of order for over 40 minutes, Maulana Fazl alleged that policies concerning country’s integrity and security were being framed not at forums of the government, political leadership, and the Parliament, but in closed rooms. “We are not allowed even to furnish our proposals,” he said.

He said that a war is on with armed groups in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming that there had been no writ of the government in those two provinces. “Had the prime minister present in the House, he might have stated that he had no knowledge of the situation,” he said.

Fazl said if the ruler is so ill-informed then who takes decisions. “Who takes decisions and where these decisions are taken,” he said, adding that tomorrow the government and Parliament would responsible in the eyes of the people.

He went on to say that there was no civilian authority, and no policy was based on political decisions, adding that and a special establishment takes decisions in closed rooms and the government approves their decisions. “Are we ready to come out of this situation or not,” he said, questioning whether the politicians would have to act behind the curtain.

Fazl said that there were many areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which have been abandoned not only by the police but also by the security forces. “I have to say with heavy heart that six to seven district are in situation where they can announce their independence,” he said, adding that he was not talking emotionally but telling facts.

He said in southern districts of KP, there was no rule of law or presence of law enforcement agencies. “First establish your writ and then make laws through Parliament,” he said. He said when there are issues a neighbouring country is held responsible. “We hide our weaknesses from nation.”

He said once the (Taliban) government was declared as “pro Pakistan”, adding that it was Pakistan which had to win their hearts. Fazl recalled that he visited Afghanistan last year on invitation of its government and attended a briefing at the Foreign Office to finalise agenda of visit.

He said that he took up each and every point of agenda with the Afghan interim government during meetings in Kabul and they agreed to work with Pakistan on the same agenda. “As to who intervened to make ‘progress’ and spoiled the whole work. If institutions have to take things forward,” he wondered, adding that Pakistan was opening a new front with Afghanistan.

Maulana Fazl said that tribal areas of the country had been epicenter of a war for the last more than 30 years because external power like the United States wanted to occupy natural resources and minerals there.

He said that tribal people agreed merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for development, but in return their peace had been snatched from them. “What you are doing with the state, and where you are taking the country to,” he wondered.

He maintained that it was Parliament and civilian leadership which had to take all the decisions otherwise there would be no improvement. Fazl said that Pakistan’s economy had been left at mercy of international financial institutions. He referred to meeting of the IMF delegation with the judiciary.

“It is due to such interference of international financial institutions that Pakistani investor is leaving the country,” he said. He said that the whole country was passing through an unrest as the common man neither had employment nor their lives and properties were safe.

Talking about government’s downsizing scheme, the JUIF chief said that many organisations had been abolished rendering thousands of people jobless.

He said the government had been stubborn enough not to given any consideration to positive suggestions of the opposition members in the last one year. Following his lengthy speech, Maulana Fazl led his party MNA’s out of the House.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Aslam Ghuman pointed out lack of quorum as soon as Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar wanted to respond. The law minister lost patience and strongly criticised the opposition members saying that they had not courage to listen and they were trying to hide behind quorum. “Maulana is asking us to listen to the opposition, but the opposition first wants release of their leader, and get away with their Rs60 billion corruption,” he said.