Criticism not aimed at institutions: Fazl

Terms ministers' allegations character assassination

LAHORE:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday called the government "powerless", questioned its counterterrorism policy and challenged the rationale for imposing governor's rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Demanding an in-camera session of parliament to examine why the country had failed to curb terrorism, Fazl said his criticism was directed at government policies rather than state institutions and was intended to bring about corrective action.

He termed the allegations levelled against him by federal ministers character assassination, arguing that political leaders should be taken into confidence on security decisions instead of being ridiculed or accused of undermining the state.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore, Fazl said his party had paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism, with around 250 religious scholars and workers losing their lives.

He questioned how a party whose members had made such sacrifices could be accused of supporting terrorists, insisting that its contribution to the country's security should neither be ridiculed nor overlooked.

"Our only question is why the country has failed to eliminate terrorism. Let us sit together and find out why. Parliament is the most appropriate forum to discuss the issue and make decisions. Instead of ridiculing politicians, the government should take them on board in this fight so that we can move forward together," he said.

Fazl questioned where key security decisions were being made, alleging that parliament was expected to endorse decisions taken elsewhere.

"If Parliament is supreme, why are decisions taken in Rawalpindi while Parliament is simply told to follow them?" he remarked. "The issue is that this government is powerless. Decisions are taken somewhere else, and it implements them obediently," he alleged.

He maintained that the country needed a shared national narrative and a counterterrorism strategy developed through consensus. The government, he said, should explain its decisions and take the public into confidence rather than impose "unilateral measures".

"We have no desire to start a debate in the country. The sacrifices should not be made controversial," he said, urging parliament to assess the country's security situation and determine why efforts against militancy were not producing the desired results.

He also cautioned institutions responsible for security against ridiculing politicians or making light of their sacrifices.

Fazl said the government had decided to join an international alliance against terrorism and urged it to accept his proposal for an in-camera parliamentary session.

He questioned why the authorities were unwilling to explain their approach to the public, arguing that parliament was the only appropriate platform for taking the nation into confidence.

"If the nation is expected to form lashkars against terrorism and sit in trenches, it must at least be taken into confidence," he said.

The JUI-F chief also questioned the government's decision to negotiate with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had been in power in K-P, while accusing the party of supporting terrorists.