PESHAWAR: People from various walks of life suspect foreign involvement in the poor law and order situation in the Frontier province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), with many pointing finger to an international conspiracy to isolate and separate the region from the rest of the country and the world.
Each and every dweller of the NWFP and Fata is concerned over what has been happening in this part of the world for the past many years. The disturbing situation has badly affected the local industry, trade, education — especially that of girls — media and politics. The entire political scenario has changed and the prime focus of the rulers is no more development of the area under their jurisdiction, but to struggle against the elements bent upon disturbing law and order.
“I think the situation worsened after the army was involved at a time when there was no need for it. The issue of militancy in some parts of Fata should have been settled politically and not by force,” remarked Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, the senior vice president of the Awami National Party (ANP) that shares coalition governments in the Centre and NWFP.
The senator also said the area inhabited by Pakhtuns had attraction for the international powers, including the United States, China, Russia, Arab countries, India and Iran. “It is up to the government in Centre to decide whether to fight or settle the issue through dialogue. We, the politicians, believe in negotiations but the situation is complex,” he opined.
Situation in the Frontier and Fata is alarming as people are migrating to safer places. The insecurity, uncertainty and the government failure to deliver have resulted in utmost disappointment among around 23 million people of Frontier and Fata.
“It is not clear whether the government is deliberately silent over whatever is happening around or it has failed to address the issue of militancy properly. The fact is that each and every citizen of the Frontier and Fata believes the situation has isolated them from the rest of the country,” Ali Kamran, a student of the University of Peshawar, expressed himself.
Bomb blasts, suicide attacks, explosions at educational institutions and threats to others and kidnapping for ransom have made life a hell for commoners in the tribal belt and Peshawar, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Hangu, Kohat, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Swat, Buner and Dir districts.
Asif Luqman Qazi, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), blamed the previous federal government for the turmoil in Fata and Frontier. He, however, added that the situation deteriorated after the rulers declared Pakistan as front-line state against “war on terror”.
“The people of Pakistan consider it a war against Islam and Muslims, but the government acted against the sentiments of the public. The incumbent regime replaced President Musharraf but the policy has not been changed because they have come into power under a deal with the Americans and Pakistani establishment,” stated the young Qazi.
“There are foreign conspiracies, and clearly Indian and American hand behind it, but the responsibility for the country’s security rests upon our own government,” the Jamaat-e-Islami Nowshera district chief added.
Asif Luqman Qazi said, however, it was the Pakistan government that provided opportunity to the enemies to take advantage of the situation. “We condemn the sabotage acts and killing of innocent people and consider it against the teachings of Islam and Quran. Even in the military operations, innocent people, and not militants, are killed and their houses demolished,” he said.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader offered that his party could play its role and mediate if the government showed sincerity and willingness to resolve the issue. It was because of the area situation that for the first time in history a Federal Minister, Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, assured the NWFP business community to take up the issue of declaring Frontier a war-hit province. It is a fact what has been happening in Peshawar and other parts of the Frontier and Fata is worse than many war-hit countries. Peshawar has been rated one of the most dangerous towns of the world, given its two-year history.
“Many know about a map issued by an American think-tank that had a different look of the region, with a divided Pakistan. If there is really an international conspiracy to separate and isolate the region, then the question is what our rulers and our institutions are doing to counter it,” opined Sharafat Ali Mubarak, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial vice president and the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) president.
The SCCI president also accused the previous rulers of unwise policies on two important occasions: When Russia invaded Afghanistan and again after the 9/11 incident. “All the stakeholders and representatives from various walks of life need to be consulted over the issue. The people of the province should be taken into confidence and talks held with militants for restoring peace in the region and country,” concluded Sharafat.
The government formed in the Centre and province after last year’s general elections was the last hope for the NWFP residents, who have been bearing the brunt of the poor law and order. Though the performance of the federal and NWFP governments during the last 10 months has not been up to the public expectations, hopes are still alive that peace would be restored in the region provided the rulers made sincere efforts.
No comments:
Post a Comment