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Pakistan: Immediate talks with Taliban

By News Desk
February 28 2013

 

 

 

An All Parties Conference (APC), organised by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F), called for immediately holding peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, Express Newsreported on Thursday.

The APC decided that all stakeholders will hold talks, including the government and the tribal elders, to formulate a strategy.

Headed by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the conference was attended by representatives of the tribal areas and political leaders including Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, PML-Quaid president Chauhdry Shujaat Hussain, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood Achakzai and Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan chief Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Makhdoom Amin Faheem said that his party would support every step to be taken for peace according to the Constitution.

Maintaining that his party had also been the victim of terrorism and had made many sacrifices, Faheem said that President Asif Ali Zardari “secured the country with the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay’”.

Nawaz urged all political parties to play their due role in tackling challenges being faced by the country. “We should keep aside our political differences and play our due role for maintaining peace in the country,” he said while appreciating JUI-F for holding the conference.

Chaudhry Shujaat emphasised that not every problem can be solved with force, talks should be held instead.

Tribal politicians who were not invited to the moot had also expressed confidence in the conference’s ability to restore peace.

Expressing willingness to enter peace negotiations with the government, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had earlier named three senior politicians – Nawaz, Maulana Fazl and Jamaat-e-Islami amir Syed Munawar Hasan – to act as guarantors.

Originally published by Tribune Pakistan

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