NATO supply lines will not be restored: JUI-F

Maulana Fazlur Rahman contends move will be against national interest. PHOTO: INP/FILE

While talking at a party jirga on Wednesday, Maulana Fazlur Rahman stated that the joint resolution of parliament and recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) have redefined Pakistan’s stance with respect to the US.

“Any secret deals conducted in the past are now null and void. Any department or ministry cannot bypass these new principles now,” he said.

“Nato supply routes will not be restored as it is detrimental to the national interest of Pakistan and can lead to civil war in the country.

“The US is well aware of the economic problems of Pakistan. The country is also facing constitutional crises after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s conviction. And now the US wants to pressurise Pakistan through the Chicago conference. Our leaders should show maturity in dealing with such situations.”

Meanwhile, he also criticised the provincial government and said that the Awami National Party (ANP) has approved a resolution calling for including Fata in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), but “this is against the wishes of the people”.

He pledged to invite tribal elders to discuss the situation further and recommended the provincial government to take them into confidence before taking any major decisions.

Condemning the violence in Karachi, the JUI-F leader said it seems that “the leaders are not serious about dealing with the crises”.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2012.