JI leaders concerned at lawlessness

BANNU: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Tuesday opposed the approval by the Apex Committee for the launch of a military operation in Janikhel area in Bannu district and said the party would hold a jirga to unite political parties and members of the business community against the decision.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bannu Press Club, JI leader Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and others said the past military operations had failed to resolve the issues and warned that the same approach would not succeed in the future.

Accompanied by JI leaders Maulana Arifullah and Mufti Sifatullah, he said the JI would not support any military action in Janikhel and expressed concern over the environment of fear created by the Apex Committee’s announcement.

Prof Ibrahim Khan said that previous military operations led to displacement and caused suffering to the people without any tangible outcomes. He urged the government to present evidence of any success from such operations. “This decision is unwise, and we reject it outright,” he declared.

The jirga is scheduled for December 28 and will bring together representatives from all political parties, civil society organizations and trader unions to devise a strategy.

The JI leaders reiterated solidarity with the people of Janikhel and pledged to work collectively to protect their rights.

Referring to unfulfilled promises made during the previous peace dialogues, the JI leaders demanded that commitments made by the provincial government, including those announced by the Chief Minister during his visit to Bannu, should be honoured.

They condemned the closure of Juma Khan Road and the creation of no-go zones in cantonment areas, urging authorities to reopen them for public access. The party called for the suspension of sentences handed down to political activists by military courts, terming them unconstitutional and illegal.

Prof Ibrahim criticized the Supreme Court’s approval of military courts, reiterating JI’s rejection of their legitimacy.

The December 28 jirga aims to address the looming threat of displacement due to the planned military operation and devise a strategy to counter the fear and uncertainty prevailing among the people of Bannu.