Senators seek clarity over negotiations with TTP

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate on Thursday witnessed a debate on the state’s negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with senators demanding clarity from the government over the matter.

During the session, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said a session on negotiation with the TTP took place at the PM Office on Wednesday in which representatives of some political parties were present but not everyone was invited.

“This session took decisions related to talks with the TTP. Therefore, there should be clarity and the house should be informed that which committee’s session was it?” Senator Ahmed questioned.

The senator said that if the session was of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) then he was a member of it and was not invited to the meeting.

Read PPP peeved at by-passing parliament in TTP talks

“Was this a session of a parliamentary committee? If not, then where does parliament stand on this matter?” the JI senator wondered.

Senator Ahmed added that the government said that it would brief parliament on the negotiations. “What will be the use of it once the [state] finalises it themselves?”

The senator slammed the government, saying whether parliament was a mere “rubber stamp”.

PPP Senator Raza Rabbani said parliament is “always used as a rubber stamp”.

“There will be no use of presenting the TTP agreement before parliament if the government finalises it as the agreement cannot be amended later,” the former Senate chairman said.

Rabbani said an in-camera session of parliament should be called to inform lawmakers about the terms and conditions of the negotiations with the TTP.

“I am surprised that we can speak to the TTP, but production orders for Ali Wazir, a parliament member, could not be issued so far despite several requests,” Rabbani added.

In response, Azam Nazeer Tarar, the law minister, said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made it clear that negotiations would be in line with the Constitution.

“Talks with the TTP will be held in consultation with parliament and parliament will be part of it,” he said.

Talking on the floor of the house, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui said negotiations with the TTP did not start two-and-a-half months back, but were initiated during the previous government’s tenure.

(With input from NEWS DESK)