Pointing fingers: ‘New security plan must be devised to counter terrorism’

JUI-F leader condemns mistreatment of Afghan nationals

PESHAWAR: A new security plan must be chalked out as the previous strategy has not borne fruit, especially in the wake of the blast at Quetta’s Civil Hospital. This was said by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl provincial leader Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan. He said this during a news conference at his party’s secretariat on Wednesday.

According to Gul Naseeb, the attack on Civil Hospital in Quetta reflects the failure of the agencies. He asked the government to explain why loopholes in security arrangements continued to exist.   The JUI-F leader demanded the security plan should be reviewed to prevent such incidents in future.



He criticised the government for issuing condemnation statements after every tragedy. “Such an ostrich-like attitude would not help in solving problems,” he added.

Harassment of Afghans

He condemned the mistreatment of Afghan refugees in the province.

The JUI-F leader said they were staying in the country as per international law and should be treated well.  “Arresting and humiliating them would never be accepted,” he said.

Gul Naseeb maintained if the government wants to send them back then it should be done in a respectable manner. “They are Pukhtuns and Muslims,” he said. “We should not challenge their dignity as civilised people never humiliate their brothers.”

He decried the chief minister for expressing ignorance over the harassment of Afghan refugees. “If the chief minister of the province was not aware of it then what could be said about his team,” he added.

The JUI-F leader also spoke at length about the accountability movement started by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

“Nearly four years have passed but people were still waiting on the change that was promised,” he said. “Whatever the PTI-led provincial government has in its hands [the province] is in shambles, but it still wants to snatch what others [the federal government] have.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2016.