ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Syed Qamar Raza, on Wednesday clarified that his contact with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) was a personal initiative aimed at persuading the group to abandon violence and pursue a peaceful resolution, rejecting claims made in a statement circulated by JAAC-linked social media accounts.
In a clarification issued by the Office of the Chairman, Board of Governors, OPF, Qamar Raza said the JAAC press release had distorted a well-intentioned personal initiative undertaken solely to help resolve the situation peacefully.
He said that as chairman of the OPF, the welfare of overseas Pakistanis and addressing their concerns—whether real or perceived—remained his foremost priority. He added that he reached out to JAAC to convince its members to turn away from violence.
According to the statement, while most members responded positively and logically to the proposal for a peaceful solution, some elements attempted to exploit the initiative for what he described as “cheap media gratification.”
Qamar Raza stressed that he represented only his people and his institution, not any third party. He said his mandate was driven by his commitment to the country and its people, adding that no negative campaign would deter him from pursuing efforts aimed at peace, reconciliation and public welfare.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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