ISLAMABAD: Following the twin bombings in Peshawar city’s Qissa Khawani bazaar, chief of Jamiat-e-Ullema Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) has demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to resign.
Condemning the terrorist attack in the walled city, second in a week’s time, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the anti-peace talks elements would gain from the chaos prevalent after the recent terrorist activities.
“K-P government is trying to hide itself behind the excuse of delay in peace talks with Taliban and is not fulfilling its responsibility of providing security to the people,” said Fazl. “If you are not capable of meeting the people’s everyday security requirements, then resign,” the JUI-F chief advised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) led coalition government in the province.
In a statement made through his spokesperson Jan Achakzai, Fazl said the forces that wanted to sabotage the process of peace talks with Taliban and were not supporting the idea are involved in such terrorist activities. They were deliberately aiming the soft target to pressure the federal government to change its mind on its decision of talking peace with the militants, Fazl was quoted as saying.
JUI-F chief said the K-P government recently removed multiple checkpoints established at the entry and exit routes in the city of Peshawar which has allowed the terrorists to operate freely. Also, the law enforcement agencies were not getting clear directions from the provincial government on maintaining the law and order in the provincial capital, he added.
“Under such circumstances, the federal government should not leave the K-P province on the mercy of PTI government,” said Fazl asking the government in centre to take steps on its own.
The JUI-F chief said the government must act quickly to materialise the process of peace talks with the Taliban as it was decided in the All Parties’ Conference. “Otherwise, it would be too late.”
Achakzai said the JUI-F chief condemned the attack. He said no religion allows the killing of innocent people. However, he said the environment of uncertainty that follows such terrorist attacks would only benefit the elements that were against the peace talks.
He demanded the provincial government to speed up the process of relief and rehabilitation for the blast victims.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2013.