Politicking on refugees (Army Operation in Swat Region)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Editorial, The Daily Times, Pakistan
May 15, 2009
As the refugee problem intensified in Malakand Division after the military operation there, PMLN legislators in the National Assembly decided on Wednesday to criticise the government for not consulting parliament before launching the offensive. The answer from the PPP MNAs was that the government had no other option after the failure of the peace deal with the Taliban. Is this the beginning of a policy of isolating the government on a national issue of paramount importance for narrow party political ends?
A PMLN leader delivered a hard-hitting speech favouring the street rumour — and the line adopted by the opposition outside the parliament — that “the government had launched the military operation on the US dictate in order to earn dollars”. Surprisingly, the same leader, at a loss for a solution of his own, insisted that the government should still try “a negotiated settlement of the dispute”.
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Labels: IDPs, Pakistan Army Operation, Refugees, Swat, Taliban, Terrorism
posted @ 11:42 AM,
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