Govt committee replies TTP's letter, urges to halt attacks
The government team has also expressed concern over TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid’s interview.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The government committee, formed to hold peace talks with Taliban, has replied TTP committee’s letter, urging it to halt terror activities in the country.
The letter further stated that if the attackers are some other elements than they should be indicated and exposed.
According to sources, the letter calls for an immediate end to Taliban activities as terrorist attacks are having a negative impact on peace talks.
The government committee has also conveyed its demands and suggestions to the Taliban, linking a proposed meeting with improvement in conditions.
The government committee has also expressed reservations over an interview, given by TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid to an international media.
Taliban committee member Professor Ibrahim said the recommendations of the TTP political shura had been conveyed to the government and there were now awaiting a reply.
Earlier, talking to the media, member of state committee Rustam Shah Mahmand had said that dialogue process with TTP was complicated and both sides would face difficulties during this journey.
Shah said if guarantee of protection is provided, Taliban leadership could hold talks directly with the government. He said the dialogue process would move forward within limits of Pakistan’s constitution.
Rustam Shah said first priority of government was to maintain ceasefire while Taliban leadership also agreed it.
Professor Ibrahim while talking to media said that the government negotiating body had not replied over the demand of scheduling a meeting with army chief and DG ISI. However, he said the Taliban committee was satisfied with the so far developments.
Meanwhile Member of Taliban committee Maulana Samiul Haq said that the demands of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were placed before the government’s committee that has expressed satisfaction.
Maulana Samiul Haq said that the blasts in Peshawar were a conspiracy to sabotage peace process however TTP has denied any links to these blasts.
On the other hand, JUI-S chief Maulana Sami-ul-Haq has called moot of Ulema from all sects on February 15 in Lahore to create consensus over dialogue process.
Meanwhile, accepting the responsibility of blast on police bus in Karachi, Banned TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid has said that this attack was in retaliation of killing of their accomplices who were killed in illegitimate police encounters in Karachi, Sawabi and Peshawar in past few days.
Shahidullah claimed that 20 accomplices have been killed in police encounters in one month adding that TTP will continue to retaliate in ‘defense’ after any attack on Taliban until a formal ceasefire is announced.
Taliban spokesman also said that it is essential for government to stop such activities for the success of negotiation process hoping that the measures to stop attacks on Taliban will be taken immediately.
Shahidullah Shahid claimed that the interview given to foreign publication was published out of context.
He further said that he never used the word ‘caliph’ for Mullah Fazlullah and that there’s no mention of continuation of attacks in the interview.
Earlier, a powerful car bomb attack on a police bus Karachi killed at least 13 policemen and wounded 57 others, Dunya News reported.
The attack came as Pakistan has been locked into negotiations with the Taliban aimed at ending a seven-year insurgency, with the level of violence in the country showing no signs of abating since talks began at the end of last month.
