Taliban announce committee to negotiate with govt
5-member committee includes Imran Khan, Kifayatullah, Prof Ibrahim, Samiul Haq and Abdul Aziz
HANGU (Dunya News): Banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced a five-member committee nominating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, Mufti Kifayatullah of JUI-F, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Professor Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to negotiate with the government.
Announcing the committee, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said that Taliban are serious and sincere about negotiations and the government should also start the negotiations with all seriousness.
The previous government used negotiations as combat weapon and hope that this government will not repeat the past mistakes, he added. TTP spokesperson further said that there’s no reason to object over government’s negotiation committee and that TTP has formally announced their five-member committee.
Shahidullah Shahid also said that TTP will provide its political Shura’s guidance, supervision and complete protection in its ‘operated areas’ to the negotiation committee.
According to Dunya News reports, Taliban Shura have also prepared a list comprising 22 conditions.
Taliban central Shura convened under supervision of Commander Khalid Haqqani on Saturday and considered a six-member committee comprising Shahidullah Shahid, Khalid Haqqani, Umer Khalid Khrasani, Asmatullah Muawiya, Qari Shakeel and Khan Saeed.
PTI sources have said that Imran Khan was not taken into confidence by Taliban before including his name.
The PTI chief has convened core committee meeting here to review banned TTP offer to be part of its negotiation team.
Sources said during the meeting executive members would give their opinion that Imran Khan should participate in Taliban committee or avoid it.
The political impact to be part of Taliban’s committee will also come under the discussion in the meeting.
The meeting was already scheduled however; Imran Khan’s nomination by Taliban for talks has changed the agenda of party’s core committee moot.
Meanwhile, JUI-F also called an emergency meeting today (Monday) to discuss Taliban dialogue process.
JUI-S chief Maulana Sami-ul-Haq called an emergency meeting of his party in wake of dialogue between Taliban and government.
Jamat-e-Islami also called urgent meeting after Taliban’s nominations for dialogue with the government.
JI’s professor Ibrahim has said the meeting of concerned parties whom leaders have been nominated by the Taliban would held in next two days. He said they are contacting JUI-S, JUI-F, PTI and Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz to discuss Taliban’s offer.
