Chalking out plans: ‘DPC was created as armed forces failed’

Maulana Samiul Haq announces events planned by DPC.

LAHORE:

The Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) came into being because the armed forces were nowhere to be seen in the defence of Pakistan, DPC Chairman Maulana Samiul Haq said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a media briefing at Mansoora after a DPC meeting, Haq said if the armed forces had been doing their duties, Pakistan would not be facing terrorism or instability; nor would US agents be “roaming freely” in the country.

He said the country’s defense was the entire nation’s responsibility and “parties representing the masses” had realised this.

Haq expressed concern over law and order in Karachi. He said the DPC had decided to convene an all parties conference in Karachi on December 30 to find ways to restore peace to the city.

Haq said that the council would invite representatives of all political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl president Maulana Fazlur Rahman.

He said they would take out a ‘peace march’ for an end to targeted killings.

Asked if they would invite the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party to the conference, Haq said the DPC would be happy if all parties joined hands to end the violence in Pakistan’s biggest city.

To another question, he said the bloodshed in Karachi was not a “sectarian issue” but between various forces competing to secure control of the city.

Haq said ulema and students at madrassahs had also been targeted.



The DPC meeting termed December 16, the day of the fall of Dhaka (in 1971), the ‘blackest day in the country’s history.’ It announced it would take out a peace march from The Mall to the Wahga border crossing to mark the day.

Haq said US intervention was the reason behind the unrest in Pakistan. “The solution is to rid the country of America’s slaves to end our political and economic slavery to the US.”

He said the DPC moot had discussed the volatile situation in Balochistan. “We call for immediate measures to restore peace to the province,” he said.

Haq said a just solution to the Kashmir issue was necessary to ensure regional peace. He said he welcomed the impending visit of a delegation of the All Parties Hurriat Conference from Kashmir. He called on the Indian government to allow Hurriat leader Syed Ali Geelani to join the delegation.

He said the DPC would hold a seminar on Kashmir in Islamabad on January 5 to express support for the Kashmiri struggle for freedom.

He said the DPC would take out a march from Rawalpindi to Islamabad on February 5 (Kashmir Solidarity Day).

The DPC meeting was attended by Jamaat-i-Islami chief Munawar Hasan, Jamaatud Dawa chief  Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat head Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Pir Saifullah Khalid, Lieutenant General (retd) Hamid Gul, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Sardar Attique Ahmed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2012.