Safe havens for militants in Punjab: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal information minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira admits to the presence of  ‘safe havens’ for militant groups in the Punjab. He also says a clampdown on militants in the province is the responsibility of the provincial government.

Kaira made these remarks in an exclusive interview with Express. When specifically asked whether the government was planning a crackdown on these havens, Kaira said: “It’s not the federal government; it is the provincial government that has to decide.”

The minister is insistent that the Punjab government will call the shots although he does concede, “in consultation with the federal government”.

“If the provincial government feels and sees that the normal law enforcement agencies are not capable of doing such operations, that they need assistance from the federation, then the Rangers and other federal agencies will step in,” says Kaira. “But,” he’s quick to caution, “that will be done at the request of the provincial government.”

Kaira’s statement is likely to provide further fuel to an already furious debate among the politicians. Coined by a journalist, the term ‘Punjabi Taliban’ was used to refer to the large numbers of Taliban recruits who hailed from the Punjab, particularly the south. At the time, the phenomenon evoked great interest because it had been assumed the recruits comprised largely Pashtuns and some foreigners and the new description meant an analytical rethink by policymakers and analysts alike.

In the hands of the politicians, however, the term began acquiring decidedly ethnic overtones. The infamous meeting of Punjab law minister Rana Sanullah with leaders of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba during the Jhang by-polls became a stick the PML-N’s opponents beat the party with. Meanwhile, Punjab governor Salman Taseer was also seen with the deputy secretary of the SSP. Shortly after came Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s appeal to the Taliban to “spare Punjab”.

At a time the rest of the country was stretched thin grappling with the effects of militancy, PML-N got much flak for partisanship. Soon after, the PPP camp led by Punjab governor Salman Taseer launched into a diatribe against the PML-N for damaging the good fight with controversial statements.

And then there came the equally strange insistence from Sharif that everyone who referred to the ‘Punjabi Taliban’ was casting aspersions on the province. The days since have seen a furious lobbing and volleying of insults from both camps.

To watch the full interview, tune in to ‘Faceoff with Munizae Jahangir’ on Express 24/7 on June 17

Published in the Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2010.