PTI was not on the same page before, but the major developments that have happened recently suggest that they are all on the same page. So, what strategies are these people adopting in relation to counterterrorism? What should happen? What strategies are being adopted?
Look, as far as being on the same page, or coming of all of them to the same page is concerned, I am not fully endorsing it yet, that all political parties, including Tehreek-e-Insaf, have come to the same page for matters including militancy in Pakistan, or that they are on one page, and from now onwards all of them, hands in hands, will struggle for common goals.
The misfortune of Pakistan is that politics prevails, and is prioritized, even over very sensitive matters—the life and death of the country and the nation, and the life and death of the people. Even on such sensitive matters, the politics of the political parties remains dominant. These fundamental issues, important issues, always remain downplayed. They remain low, given less importance, while politics is bigger and more important. I often say that in Pakistan, politics is first and foremost for politicians. And it is even bigger than the national constitution. And you have seen that in the past; Pakistan has been divided because of this same political and military conflict and not being on the same page.
Even today, we see that all the political parties in Pakistan, Pakistan’s establishment, and other stakeholders are there to put Pakistan on the path of progress, to evolve the strategy from counter-militancy, and to end poverty and backwardness from Pakistan. I still don’t see these people on the same page.
The meeting after which the impression of the “same page” is being given was the meeting of the Apex Committee, in which the Corps Commander Peshawar participated. The Apex Committee was convened the day before yesterday. We will say, “come late, come safe.” Until yesterday, Sohail Afridi, by defaming the institutions, especially the army, was attributing all the evil in Pakhtunkhwa and especially in the tribal areas to the establishment. Tehreek-e-Insaf and Sohail Afridi were constantly holding the establishment responsible for all the mess, by saying that decisions are being made behind closed rooms and those decisions are then imposed upon people, and that’s why results are also negative. Then we saw that their continuous narrative was against the army.
Although I personally do not consider Sohail Afridi to be against the army. You know that from the first day, I consider Sohail Afridi to be a good boy. I never considered him to be against the army. But whatever happens in the middle, it is politics, as you have to reduce the political pressure on yourself. So, whatever Sohail Afridi said about the army or about other institutions or other political groups, the day before yesterday we saw that he called a meeting of the Apex Committee. Senior civil and military leaders, including the Corps Commander Peshawar, Chief Secretary, and IG, were also present. A resolute intention and decision were made that after this meeting, the war against terrorism will be fought vigorously and will be fought together.
Sohail Afridi was not giving shoulder to this war yet. Although in practice, he had given a shoulder because all operations were happening under his rule and with his approval. The drones were also under his rule. But now he has agreed on a platform, and now Tehreek-e-Insaf will also own counter-militancy operations. He also said that along with the army, operations will also be carried out by police and CTD of Pakhtunkhwa, asserting that they will root out the menace of terrorism. He also said that terrorism and terrorists are menaces. So, Sohail Afridi has come out openly for the first time.
Look, I will tell you openly that the narrative of PTI is still against the army. First of all, Sohail Afridi and PTI should cease the politics of hypocrisy. They should come up with clarity and tell us openly what their policies are. On the one hand, they are sitting at the feet of the establishment; on the other, they are criticizing that very establishment. They ask for a deal and concessions from the establishment. They keep saying in the morning and evening that if we talk, we will talk to the army. If Imran Khan talks, he will talk to the army only. And when it is said from the army’s side that you should not talk to us but to these political parties or the government, then their guns turn towards the army, especially towards the army chief. This whole matter ignited recently between the army and PTI.
You have seen some of Imran Khan’s tweets which directly targeted the Chief of the Army Staff, General Asim Munir, not just once, but repeatedly. Now, if you target the army chief of Pakistan, you have to tolerate the repercussions of this act as well. Either you stand with courage and confront whatever comes, or you must improve your attitude, behavior, or affairs. Come to the right track. Come to the straight path. But this is not the case yet. Look, they set the atmosphere hot.
You saw that the whole issue of Tirah IDPs was basically caused by this KP government. If the people of Tirah left their homes helplessly, it was the responsibility of the KP government to take care of them. The difficulties they faced on the way, vehicles that overturned, and the people who lost their lives, including children, are the responsibility of Sohail Afridi. By bringing these people, the process of registration, which was made difficult and humiliating for the IDPs, was also under his responsibility. In IDP camps, or for those going to relatives’ houses in Tehsil Bara or Jamrud, it was his government’s duty to look after them properly, giving stipends or rent. The negotiations with the 24-member jirga of Tirah were handled by the district administration under his supervision. So, when you make people IDPs and then hold the army responsible, the army was not responsible for looking after them.
Either Sohail Afridi should have supported the operation from the very beginning or opposed it. The way he was opposing it, Imran Khan’s 20-22 years of politics shows he has been against operations. Sohail Afridi would either follow the path of his leader or should have carved out a way by sitting with the army. After Tirah’s IDPs suffered, he announced he was taking people back, but when he came to Jamrud, what he called a “Jirga” was actually a Jalsa. He later said he was taking people to Islamabad to hold people accountable for Form 47. He met the Prime Minister without taking permission from Imran Khan or his party’s parliamentary committee. Ali Amin Gandapur did not attend funerals of martyrs, nor did Sohail Afridi. Yet CM went to the funeral of an army captain while simultaneously sitting with the army to finalize counter-militancy strategy. Why were these steps not taken from day one?
PTI walked with the Governor on Kashmir Solidarity Day, whom they previously called the “fake Governor of Form 47 parties.” So, either they were always good or suddenly became good kids. There is information that the federal government sent the last message to PTI: either play your parliamentary role and come back to the committees, or the bashing will begin. Now they are trying to be good kids, saying that we have to fight together. Sohail Afridi will soon be a target of PTI’s social media, as Ali Amin Gandapur previously was.
Yesterday, he addressed police, made some important decisions, gave them new weapons, bulletproof vehicles, motorcycles, and other tools to fight militants. He paid homage to police martyrs who have sacrificed for 20 years. These measures will strengthen counter-militancy operations. But Sohail Afridi is still under some pressure; he is not doing this from his heart. I believe these people could spoil it further.
Today they speak of fighting against militants, killing, and winning the war, yet until yesterday they convened Jirgas and dialogues. The army is already fighting; they should have sat with the army months ago. Three months went by negotiating with the Taliban; another three to four months will pass now. Then corruption will follow, and nothing will happen if someone goes home.
