‘Solid proof’: Govt incapable of handling foreign affairs, says Qadri

Criticises Sartaj Aziz for his statement on the Tailban; rejects JIT report

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday said the present government was incapable of framing the country’s foreign policy, citing as proof a recent statement of the prime minister’s top aide Sartaj Aziz.

In an interview with BBC Urdu, Aziz appeared to stray from the official stated policy of indiscriminate targeting of militants. Qadri said Aziz’s statement regarding the Taliban is not less than stabbing the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the back. His remarks came just before he set off for Bhakkar.

The PAT chief pointed out that the statement came at a time when the army chief was in the United States seeking support for the operation which was being conducted without any discrimination against all terrorists.

Qadri said PAT has no trust in report of the Joint Investigation Team on Model Town firing incident. “We reject the JIT. The formation of the JIT is a total fraud,” he said. “The JIT report has been prepared in the Patiala House and has been written under the guidance of an investigation officer who is an encounter specialist and some other Special Branch officials,” Qadri claimed.

Balochistan CM flayed over inaction

Qadri said that a few days ago the PAT president of Balochistan was killed along with his wife and children. The bodies of these innocent people were lying at their home in Narri area of Bolan district for two days and no one came to see what had happened. He said the Balochistan chief minister and governor did not even condole with the bereaved family, leave alone take any action against the killers, who came in a car bearing a government number plate.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2014.