Wana operation could lead to civil war: minister

ISLAMABAD: NWFP law minister Malik Zafar Azam has expressed the fear of civil war erupting in the country if the Wana operation in the tribal areas continues.“The ongoing operation in Wana to clamp down on foreign elements should be stopped at once and if the operation will continue for a longer period the war could spread to other cities of the country,” he said.

He made it clear that the provincial government of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal has offered its services to settle the crisis, but the federal government has hastily launched a massive operation in the South Waziristan Agency without taking the provincial government into confidence.

“At present the federal government does not contact or call the provincial government for a consultation on matters of national interest and this attitude is fomenting hatred among the masses against armed forces,” he observed.

The NWFP law minister was of the view that such steps taken by the federal government could create a rift between the government and the public and he expressed the fear that if the situation remains the same, then a change in country’s geographical boundaries is not far off.

“At present the MMA government wants that foreign elements should be kicked out of the country since they are creating unrest by damaging its peace,” he said. “But the federal government does not contact provincial government and take unanimous decisions.”

PML-N to call parties to discuss Wana in 4 days: The chairman of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, said on Sunday that the Wana operation is a serious mistake and his party would call a meeting of political parties to take a united stance against it.

“The situation has been aggravated in the area and it is a result of bad government policy,” he told SANA. “The country will face the consequences of this operation in the future.” He said that the PML-N has not yet decided whether it will invite the MMA to the meeting or not. —SANA/Online

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