NWFP Minister for Information and Inter Provincial Coordination, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, has said that the agreement inked between government and local Taliban is intact and both the parties are honouring their commitments till date.
In response to an assertion made by Advisor on Interior, Rehman Malik, the Minister said that the Government of NWFP and Taliban were the signatories to the peace agreement adding that none of the two had breached the agreement. The minister said that the provincial government was enjoying cordial relations with federal government and all steps were being taken with mutual understanding.
The provincial general secretary of ANP, Tajuddin Khan has also defended the peace agreement with local Taliban, saying that it had helped improved law and order situation in the province. He dispelled the impression of ignoring federal government in the signing of the agreement. He said that coalition partner PPP was very much on board in the peace process in the province.
The ANP leader said that the PPP senior minister in the provincial cabinet Rahimdad Khan is also a signatory to the agreement. He said that the PPP leadership included Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was fully aware of the peace negotiations with local militants.
He said besides, federal government, the provincial government of NWFP was also enjoying the backing of the military in signing peace agreement with the local Taliban. He said that they had voted into power with the pledge of the establishment of peace in the province.