Islamabad: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman has termed the current government’s anti-terrorist operation Azm-e-Istehkam as a “destabilizing operation” that will weaken the country.
On Saturday, the government launched a military operation to eradicate the menace of militancy from the country amid terror incidents across the country.
However, the move was jointly rejected by the JUI-F, former ally Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Addressing a press conference in Quetta on Monday, Fazl said the country has no records in the country.
“Our history is about the struggle against slavery. Why did we make Pakistan a slave general?” asked.
Former federal minister Fazl said that armed militant groups clearly control the regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
“They [the government] have announced Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. This is a destabilizing operation that will further weaken the country,” he said.
The veteran politician asked why the country was “going downhill”.
“Decisions will be made by people in uniform, wherever they are,” the JUI-F chief said at a National Action Plan (NAP) Central Apex Committee meeting on Saturday.
Continuing his criticism of the incumbent government, Prime Minister Fazl, who led the former alliance of PML-N and JUI-F and another political party, Pakistan Democratic Movement, said, “Shehbaz Sharif is not the prime minister, he just sits on the throne.”
“Alliance is good, but there should be mutual understanding,” the veteran politician said of a possible coalition between the JUI-F and the Imran Khan-led PTI following an agreement to play the role of a united opposition. Establish political committees to resolve various issues in the National Assembly and among themselves and formulate political strategies.
“We are not against any alliance because the consultation process with political actors must continue.”
Fazl warns Azm-e-Istehkam operation would further ‘weaken’ Pakistan
