Sindh assembly rejects 'unilateral' talks with TTP

Passes resolution demanding federal govt to take political parties, other institutions on board through parliament

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed a resolution expressing concern over the ongoing negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and demanded the federal government take all relevant stakeholders on board.

The resolution also called for involving political parties and other institutions through parliament and building a unanimous consensus over such a consequential move.

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the TTP has ramped up attacks on its side of the border, compelling Islamabad to reach a peace deal.

However, experts say the group has been emboldened by the Taliban's successful ousting of world superpower the United States from Afghanistan.

The resolution moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro was opposed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmakers who protested on moving the resolution in the house.

“This house objects to the unilateral negotiations with banned TTP that are being carried out in the most secretive manner by the Federal Government which indicates the complete bypass of the parliament as the supreme institution in the country to decide upon such matters of national security,” the resolution stated.

Read Making peace with TTP

It further added that the, "TTP has claimed thousands of innocent lives in the country over the last two decades, including of innocent civilians, brave soldiers of the armed forces, police officers, religious scholars, non-political prominent people and lest we forget, the Army Public School (APS), Peshawar massacre.

"To initiate talks with such a ruthless organization indicates the Federal Government's unwillingness to crush them by means of force," the resolution read.

“[The] Prime Minister cannot strike a deal with TTP on its own as this matter of our national interest and must be discussed in the parliament. The house demands the Federal Government to take on board all relevant stakeholders, political parties and institutions through the Parliament and build unanimous consensus over such a consequential move,” the resolution concluded.

PHOTO: EXPRESS