Backlash: Fazal’s statement on martyrdom condemned

Militant wings of political parties blamed for violence in Karachi.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Sunni Tehrik’s Ulema Board urged Maulana Fazalur Rehman on Friday to seek forgiveness for his recent comments on martyrdom. The PST leaders also objected to Fazal and Munawar Hassan calling Hakimullah Mehsud a martyr.

They said Mehsud was responsible for thousands of innocent people’s deaths.They also condemned drone attacks by American forces, saying they were attacks on the sovereignty of Pakistan. The PST urged the prime minister to deny supply lines to NATO forces and to shoot down any drones violating the country’s territory.

‘Militant wings of political parties breed violence’

“Political parties with militant wings should be banned,” Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Syed Mahfooz Shah Mashhadi said on Friday.

Mashhadi told a press conference that the government should support the law enforcement agencies for peace in the country.



He said the law and order situation in Karachi was deteriorating.

He said there should be no compromises on the safety and security of the citizens.

He blamed militant wings of political parties for the escalating violence in Karachi.

Mashhadi said the government must deal with militant wings with an iron hand.

“The government will win the support of the entire nation if it can rescue Karachi from the militant mafia,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2013.