IN an interview, caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar spoke at length on the two burning issues — the need for provision of level playing field to all parties and candidates in the backdrop of allegations by the PPP and the PTI and the rationale behind the move to deport all illegal immigrants including Afghan nationals. He categorically stated that the caretaker government is committed to enabling the people to choose their representatives by exercising their democratic rights in the upcoming elections scheduled for Feb 8 next year, adding that the “victim card” could be a “narrative” of any political party. Stressing the need for action against the terrorists, the Prime Minister said the Afghan Government knew about the hideouts of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the war-torn country. Sending a strong message to Kabul, he said it rests with the Afghan Government whether to take action against the TTP people or hand them over to Pakistan. Speaking about the government’s crackdown against illegal foreigners as the deadline was over on the 1st of November, PM Kakar said tough decisions had to be taken to run the state affairs.
While the Prime Minister has logically trashed allegations of not providing level playing field to the PPP and the PTI, he once again reiterated the resolve of the government to pursue firm action against terrorists and complete the ongoing process of sending all illegal immigrants back to their countries. No doubt, PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has consistently been complaining about the lack of level playing field for his party but his allegations are not backed by the ground realities. There are no discriminatory actions by the government against the party and its leaders are freely engaged in electoral activities in the length and breadth of the country. Bilawal obviously has concerns over moves made by the PML(N) to enlist support of other parties in Sindh, Balochistan and KP but this is part of the political process and PPP too faces no restrictions in contacting other political forces and securing their support. It appears the allegations hurled by Bilawal are also not supported by former President Asif Ali Zardari who has talked about prevalence of a conducive atmosphere for elections in the country and expressed full confidence in the ability of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold free, fair and transparent elections. In fact, the ECP is fully empowered by the law to fulfill its responsibility in a fair and impartial manner. There is also logic in the argument that the PPP is playing the ‘victim’ card as part of the propaganda to attract voters. It is also in line with this policy that, of late, the party is showing a soft corner for PTI as at times its leaders speak on behalf of PTI in an apparent bid to win sympathies of the PTI voters. PPP leadership is also un-comfortable over relief that the PML(N) is getting from the judiciary despite the fact that earlier it too acknowledged on various occasions that the PML(N) leaders were not treated fairly by the judiciary. Why complain if a wrong is being undone? It was because of this that former Information Minister and PML(N) leader Marriyum Aurangzeb told critics that if the party leaders are now being acquitted by courts, it is because they were implicated in fake cases in the first place. As for the PTI’s complaints about lack of level playing field, the Prime Minister pointed out that its leadership is behind bars because of the judicial process and the government can simply not interfere with this process. The leaders facing numerous charges should clear themselves from courts, rather than expect from the government to do their bidding. As for TTP and the Afghan Taliban nexus, he said it is simply intolerable if they (TTP) undertake terror activities in Pakistan and the Taliban watch all this like a silent spectator. They shouldn’t expect “no action” from Pakistan if terror attacks are launched into its territory. He hinted at the possibility of talks with TTP but only after the terrorist outfit lays down arms. Kakar also asserted that the policy of deportation was strictly in accordance with international law. In fact, the hue and cry being raised by Afghanistan and some international circles is mere propaganda and people of Pakistan expect that all planned stages of the crackdown would be implemented in the larger interests of the country.
