Defence of Pakistan by banned outfits

The Defence Council of Pakistan (DPC), despite the earlier assurances that banned outfits will not be permitted to hold a rally in Islamabad, held a public gathering, taking out a march at roads of the federal capital.

The DPC includes several organizations that have been banned by the government of Pakistan and the United Nations.

Three leaders of banned outfits in result of an understanding among the relevant quarters have not been permitted to enter the city to participate in the show-off. However, junior leaders of the same organizations have marked entry into the event. The activists of many banned outfits attended the rally.

Speaker after speaker called for jihad against the U.S. that was accused of interfering in Balochistan through its own terrorists.

The U.S. was charged of supported the secessionists in the region instead of understanding that the rise of militancy in the province was in the main the outcome of decades of neglect and use of military force, killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, forced abductions and custodial killings.

The participants also issued warning that sit-ins will be held all over the country if NATO supply was resumed. Additionally, the protestors would use force to halt the NATO tankers, they warned.

Former DG ISI Hameed Gul also threatened the government saying the DPC’s demonstrators would turn aggressive if the incumbent did not change its course of action.

The matter of the restoration of NATO supply line is on the Parliament’s agenda which alone is qualified to take decision over the issue. Such threats are tantamount to dictate parliament its affairs.

At the same time, some speakers went beyond it by disallowing parliament to give India MFN (Most Favored Nation) status.

Such threats can go out of hand and push the country into anarchy if moves of the sort are not discouraged at the initial level. The authorities must not permit the pursuit of short term goals to endanger the long term interests.

As freedom of speech is guaranteed under the constitution but provocation to violence sometimes encourages criminal offense. There is a need to rein in the preachers of violence before it is too late.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=13534

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 22 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.