Maulana Samiul Haq hopes ceasefire extension by TTP
The JUI-S chief says venue of talks will be decided within next two or three days.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam JUI-S chief Mualana Samiul Haq has expressed the hope that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would extend ceasefire with the government.
Talking to media in Peshawar on Tuesday, Maulana Samiul Haq said that Taliban did not fire a single bullet after the announcement of ceasefire. He expressed the hope that TTP would extend ceasefire with the government.
The JUI-S chief said that differences among rival Taliban factions would not affect the peace process however their differences have ended.
Meanwhile, talking to media in Lahore, Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Maulana Akhtar Sherani said that the negotiation with Taliban could be successful if held via tribal jirga. He prayed for the success of the peace negotiations.
On the other hand, a delegation of Taliban has reached Afghanistan to hold meeting with Mullah Fazlullah to settle the rift of leadership between Khalid Sajna and Hakimullah groups in South Waziristan.
A key Taliban commander Haji Daood said that Khalid Sajna is possessing leadership of TTP in South Waziristan by force without any announcement by Fazlullah. Haji Dawood said that majority of the commanders in shura has opposed ceasefire.
Earlier, a meeting of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) shura held at an undisclosed location on Monday.
Key Taliban commanders attended the meeting and discussed matters including ceasefire and prisoners release.
The meeting expressed concerns over the delay in release of non-combatant prisoners and govt refusal over formation of peace zone. However, Taliban agreed to extend ceasefire with the government.
According to sources, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid would formally announce ceasefire within few days.
A pamphlet was distributed among the participants of the meeting of shura. The pamphlet said that there were no differences among Taliban groups.
The statement further said that all members of the shura were united. It said that the enemies were planning to murder key Taliban commanders and all such plots would be foiled.
On the other hand, Taliban’s negotiation committee member Professor Ibrahim said that the government and army were not on same page over the issue of prisoners release.
Another Taliban committee member Maulana Yusuf said that a meeting with Taliban would be finalised soon and the ceasefire would remain effective.
Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban has expressed concerns over the clashes among different factions. They appealed rival factions to end their differences.
Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Umar in statement said that the rival factions should end their clash.
It is pertinent to mention here that two groups of TTP, Shehryar Mehsood and Khalid alias Sajna have clashed over the issue of South Waziristan leadership.
According to the sources, more than 40 members of both factions have been killed during these clashes. However, TTP statements have been differing in this regard.
Tehreek-e-Taliban spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid in a statement said there were no differences while in another he said that media was exaggerating number of killings in the clashes while both groups have ended.
