Nawaz advises govt to immediately start peace talks with TTP

PML-N chief says current setup is unreliable, no one would agree to act as guarantor.

LAHORE: Advising the government to take the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) peace-talks offer seriously, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif said they should immediately start the process.

Nawaz was speaking to media in Lahore on Thursday.

The TTP expressed its willingness to enter peace negotiations on February 4 with the government if three senior politicians – Nawaz, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami amir Syed Munawar Hasan – would act as guarantors.

Interior minister Rehman Malik claimed Nawaz had refused to be an insurer.

Criticising the government today for being unreliable, Nawaz said hardly anyone would agree to act as a guarantor for the process.

Calling for result-oriented negotiations, the PML-N chief said the country is in need of peace.