Islamabad: Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said that the government should convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to establish a consensus-based strategy for peace in Bajaur.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed these views while addressing the Tribal Peace Jirga in Islamabad on Wednesday, which was held against the unrest in Malakand Division, the tribal districts (formerly FATA), and the southern districts.

He said if the government does not call the APC, Jamaat-e-Islami will take the initiative itself. He emphasized that a military operation is not an option, as it creates distances between the public and the army. He said that only intelligence-based operations were discussed against terrorists, adding we deeply feel the pain of the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that Pakistan is a beacon of hope for Muslims worldwide. When Pakistan became a nuclear power, the entire Muslim world celebrated; however, unfortunately, the rulers imposed upon us have diminished the hopes of the people, he deplored.

He further said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been a battleground of terrorism for decades. Pakistan fought a war against Russia, and everyone supported it, he said and added the tribal areas were peaceful, and even Quaid-e-Azam had stated that there was no need to deploy the army there. He said it was the tribal people who liberated Kashmir.

"In 2001, General Musharraf involved us in a war from which we have not yet been able to extricate ourselves. In the war against terrorism, millions of people were displaced, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) spread across the country, where the people of Pakistan welcomed and supported them," he added.

In the name of America's interests, airbases were given, and the people of Pakistan are still suffering the consequences of that decision, he said. Emir Jamaat-e-Islami said that India's intelligence agency, RAW, took advantage of America's war, leading to chaos and instability. He recalled that when former Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Syed Munawar Hasan spoke on these issues, the media was used against him, portraying him as being against Pakistan. "Jamaat-e-Islami has sacrificed its blood for Pakistan," he emphasized.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman reiterated that a military operation is not an option, as it creates divisions between the people and the army. He stressed that counterterrorism operations should be intelligence-based. "We deeply feel the pain of the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," he said. "We do not need to fight anyone's proxy war in Pakistan; rather, it is essential to take all stakeholders into confidence," he added.

Emir Jamaat-e-Islami further said that governments formed by suppressing democratic voices cannot solve the people's problems. "For peace, all parties should be brought together to make a collective decision, and everyone must play their role in ensuring stability," he urged. He also questioned the effectiveness of past military operations: "The armed forces should explain what benefits have been gained from these military operations. Why is another operation being proposed now?"

If military operations were a solution, the situation would not have deteriorated as it has today, he said and added the government should convene an All Parties Conference (APC), and if it fails to do so, Jamaat-e-Islami will take the initiative itself.

He said that peaceful protest is the right of the people, and public gatherings should be organized for the sake of peace. "The people are the real owners of Pakistan, and ensuring peace is the responsibility of state institutions. If the government fails to play its role, the situation worsens. Those who hold power are the most responsible," he emphasized.

Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that efforts for peace must go beyond political differences. He called for meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government, saying, "If talks have to happen after fighting, then they should happen beforehand. The Afghan government must also act responsibly and ensure that its land is not used for terrorism." He further said, "Our freedom and sovereignty should be our top priority. Whether anyone goes to Bajaur or not, I will go. Jamaat-e-Islami will stand with you."