Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rahman said on Thursday that despite not taking active participation in the ongoing negotiations between government and Taliban, he had hope that the peace-dialogue process to become successful. Talking to media persons after attending of Dastar Bandi function at the party provincial secretariat in Peshawar, Fazl said his party had become part of federal cabinet of PML-Nawaz led government but, he said, it didn't achieve desirable objective after joining the federal cabinet.
There were some reservations and concerns over joining with the Federal government, JUI-F chief said, adding the incumbent government was also following footsteps and policies of its predecessors. About the new unveiled National Security Policy, Fazl said his party had much concerns over the policy regarding religious seminaries, and strongly protested against it.
JUI Chief said his party had not joined federal cabinet but there were some other reasons for making alliance with PML-N, he added. "We have concerns on certain matters with the government, which were yet not to be addressed," Fazl said. Criticising the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its poor performance during nine months, he said it was completely failed to address the growing lawlessness, kidnapping for ransom and terrorists activities in the province. He further said no practical steps were taken to overcome energy crisis and to create more job opportunities in the province.
Meanwhile, a member of the Taliban-nominated Negotiating Committee Maulana Samiul Haq, while talking to reporters in district Nowshera, after attending the 'Conference on Peace and Protection of Religious Seminaries on Thursday, said militant group had demanded the release of upto 400 prisoners, adding women and children could not be held prisoners regardless of peace talks.
He said both the government and the Taliban had agreed on taking the mediation process to its logical conclusion and expressed the hope that the process of goodwill gestures would begin soon. Elaborating on peace talks, Maulana Sami said the exchange of demands should continue from both sides and Taliban-nominated committee would meet with the government team today for holding of talks.
Another mediator belonging to the Taliban-nominated committee, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, who attended Wednesday's session, said he was hopeful that the one-month cease-fire announced by the TTP would be extended. "We are confident that the cease-fire will be extended," he told reporters. "Our efforts will be to ensure a permanent cease-fire." Ibrahim said the two sides were trying to build confidence in one another and would meet for more talks in "the next few days".
Regarding the Taliban pre-talk conditions, he said Taliban had placed first demand to release civilians from the custody of law enforcement and security agencies, which he said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had categorically said that the issue was not linked with the ongoing peace talk. JI KP Ameer said the peace negotiation had been entered into crucial stage, and expressed the hope that the nation would soon hear good news. The government and Taliban agenda were not fully made publicly, which would be gradually, come all demands, he added. He said JI had also strong objection over many policies of Nawaz Sharif-led government but, he added, the hostility didn't mean for not supporting the government.
It was pertinent to mentioning here that on Wednesday, a four-member government committee comprising three civil servants and a former diplomat held their first meeting with members of the TTP's political council in North Waziristan tribal district. The "Pagham-e-Aman-o-Tahaffuz-e-Madaris Conference", organised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Samiul Haq group at Akora Khattak district Nowshera, unanimously passed different resolutions and a declaration.
According to which, it was demanded to the government to take effective steps for protection of Ulema and religious leaders in the country. The government should mobilise all resources to make the ongoing peace-dialogue process successful, it demanded. The declaration asked the government to strengthen relationship with Islamic countries, rather to make alliance with Anti-Islam states. Growing violence and unrest in Karachi was also condemned, demanding to take practical measures for establishment of sustainable peace in the port-city.
The declaration also deplored the unnecessary restrictions imposed on religious seminaries by new policies, and termed the new procedures and policies totally contradicted to the constitution, and conspiracies against the religious seminaries, which cannot be acceptable, the declaration added. The declaration also demanded the enforcement of Sharia system in the country and to implement recommendations of Islamic Ideology Council, according to the constitution.
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