As the foreign terrorists run out of artillery, and the tribals sue for peace, the MMA only makes half-hearted attempts to protest again the government.
MMA protest to be of low intensity
The protest campaign to be kicked off by the “friendly” opposition, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), against the Wana operation from April 5 is going to be low intensity. The campaign will not be much different from similar earlier protests sponsored by the religious alliance over the past year or so. This one is also more meant to try to keep the MMA’s “credentials” as a worthwhile opposition alive rather than giving the government any tough time. A number of previous protests on a host of issues, mostly directed against President General Pervez Musharraf, have hardly been very effective to shake him. This too is likely to produce a similar effect. Among other reasons, it is the half-heartedness, prevailing among the MMA component parties, about these protests, which has been the main cause behind the low impact of its agitations. The Jamaat-e-Islami of Qazi Hussain has always been too vigorous about all protests, eying the next general elections, whenever these would be held. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman is lukewarm like before. The MMA’s other components are too small to contribute any mentionable support to any protest, organized by the alliance. Like several other times in the past, the MMA is angered over the intensified operation in Wana, South Waziristan Agency, which, this time, is too bloody and violent, a fact abundantly evident from the number of casualties since it was launched five days ago.
The MMA’s protest in and out of Parliament against the current drive has been of little consequence. In fact, it has not been too powerful to match the rage expressed by the MMA leaders in their public statements. With the combined opposition fractured mainly because of the MMA’s “pragmatism”, there has not been any powerful protest for months, alarming for the government, and it wouldn’t be, unless there is closing of ranks by the opposition. Joining of hands by the MMA and the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) is unlikely in the near future because the latter holds the strong view that there is no point in reviving a cooperative relationship with the religious grouping, which previously betrayed it on the question of the Legal Framework Order (LFO) and bailed out the government. The MMA is very noisy against the Wana operation. But it has failed to protest in a big way that could have changed Musharraf’s mind even slightly. There were no deafening moments because of any MMA protest in the National Assembly over the past few days when this operation has been in full swing.
The civilians were not killed by Pak army, in fact I saw on Global TV Pak army trucks were evacuating civilians. 13 civilians were killed by Al-Qaeda firing at Pak army.
Thirteen killed by terrorist fire in Pakistan: Officials
Agence France-Presse
Peshawar, March 21
WANA: Two sub-tribes have turned in two wanted tribesmen charged with sheltering Al Qaeda suspects, to the South Waziristan political administration, a senior official told Daily Times on Wednesday.
PESHAWAR: South Waziristan Agency’s political administration on Monday fined the Ahmedzai tribe Rs 5.4 million under the law of “collective responsibility” for letting their land be used for attacks and ambushes against the army and paramilitary forces hunting Al Qaeda suspects near the Afghan border.
PESHAWAR: Various Wazir sub-tribes are meeting today (Tuesday) in the South Waristan Agency to plan a search for wanted tribesmen and foreign terrorists in the area as the political administration allowed the “conditional” release of five arrested tribal leaders and unsealing of around 600 shops.
Ok, if that is what you want to belive in. I think many, many would disagree, and no amount of "authentic" news sources will ever convince you otherwise.
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This is an assumption on your part, can't say much more than that.
I would really appreciate if you could respond to the questions that I have asked you in my posts, rather than picking and choosing parts of my response.
The civilians were not killed by Pak army, in fact I saw on Global TV Pak army trucks were evacuating civilians. 13 civilians were killed by Al-Qaeda firing at Pak army.
Thirteen killed by terrorist fire in Pakistan: Officials
Agence France-Presse
Peshawar, March 21
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Similar to their behaviour in Afghanistan, when they took over that country. They come as "guests", then take over the land and start terrorising the people, with absolute no regard for their hosts and the people living there.
All these Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks and others foreigners must be expelled fro Pakistani territory, using all neceassary means!
^ Fazlur Rehmans is here in Lancashire nowadays Malik so he’s a little pre occupied
The term collective punishment is a politically correct way of targetting whole families fr the actions of an individual. the only country I know of which does does the same is Israel.
**He said the killing of innocent citizens in the tribal areas was a reckless act on the part of the federation. He said the repercussions of the military action in the tribal areas would be felt for a long time to come. **
Similar to their behaviour in Afghanistan, when they took over that country. They come as "guests", then take over the land and start terrorising the people, with absolute no regard for their hosts and the people living there.
All these Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks and others foreigners must be expelled fro Pakistani territory, using all neceassary means!
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Isnt it surprising, the same people who are protesting against the US and its war against terror at the WA forum are here cherishing this operation (of a similar nature) here. Either you are with us, or you are against us, thats what dubya said, thats what Pakistan is doing. There is no middle ground, like some ppl here are trying to build, just because Pakistan is doing what the US tells it to.
Exactly spock, the hypocrisy is amazing. The US would have by now actually killed the terrorists, instead of making the lives of civillians horrible. The pakistani army has led the terrorists go and are making lives of civllians as hell.
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Isnt it surprising, the same people who are protesting against the US and its war against terror at the WA forum are here cherishing this operation (of a similar nature) here. Either you are with us, or you are against us, thats what dubya said, thats what Pakistan is doing. There is no middle ground, like some ppl here are trying to build, just because Pakistan is doing what the US tells it to.
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Spock I don't know if anyone here is cherishing this operation but I believe this the lesser of the two evils. Musharraf should have had faith on the tribal Lashkar and told the US as much but do we really know that the US did not threaten to bomb the area? They have already given thier people permission for hot pursuit into the Tribal areas. If that were to actually happen we would have a much more serious situation on our hands. What would have happened if the casualties were caused by american forces? In my heart I am saddened that all this is going on. I certainly do not agree with breaking an agreement that was formulated by the Quaid himself. However, we can at least hope that our army and our officers will be more sensitive and more careful. After all these are thier own people. I know of many officers and soldiers who would rather be part of these operations but at least they will be more careful about the civilians. I have faith the conduct of this operation when it is reported will bear me out.
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*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
Exactly spock, the hypocrisy is amazing. The US would have by now actually killed the terrorists, instead of making the lives of civillians horrible. The pakistani army has led the terrorists go and are making lives of civllians as hell.
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What would the Pakistani army gain by doing that Imdad? Has that been established as a fact that the terrorists have been let go and civilians targeted instead?
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*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
What would the Pakistani army gain by doing that Imdad? Has that been established as a fact that the terrorists have been let go and civilians targeted instead?
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I have seen no proof of any foriegn terrorists captured or killed. All I see our local tribesmen, plus we already know of the refugees from waziristan and the deaths of civllians. Now we are hearing that the big fish escaped through tunnels, while pakistan army is making deals with tribesmen. So what is the truth there? I cetianly don't know, but I am very sceptical of claims by pakistan.
Didn't US forces also claim to have Osama cornered in Tora Bora? Does that mean they also let the terrorists escape while killing the civilians? How come you weren't taking that line back then?
Maybe I have been hanging around here to long, but hypothetically, if the US and /or Pakistan had captured OBL or al-Zwaheri, would they want to advertise this to the rest of the terrorists? I doubt it. If they let it be known that they had captured a higher up, existing plans would be either scrapped or accelerated.
If however there was a reasonable possibility that top Al-Qaedda commanders had escaped, exisiting cells would remain in place, and would be much easier to find with information from the captives, or the fortress they are currently in. So I am wondering if the "escape" of a "high value target" might be a clever cover story. And for those expecting to be in contact with these top commanders, certainly their disappearance could be temporarily explained. If you wanted to try to roll up the entire netwoek, this is how you would do it. Apparently Gen. Abzaid, America's top commander paid a visit to Mushy today, and things are interesting enough to merit a visit. If all was lost in this offensive, there would probably be no reason for a visit.
They are targeting innocent people," said one shopkeeper who gave his name as Akbar
Malik73, what do you have to say to this? This is what Pak Army has done most of the time, targetted innocent people, yet you still support it, but at the same instant you are against others who fight combatants.
Malik73, what do you have to say to this? .
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I am sure the same sources say that about Al Qaida and the Taliban terrorising the Afghan people as well, but you are reluctant to believe them. There has been many, many a testimony to the brutality in Afghanistan, yet you have chosen to ignore all that, because you don't regard those sources as "authentic" yet will turn round and use those same sources to do down the Pakistani army. What double standards.