TTP ‘poses no threat’ despite ‘incidents’

Barrister Saif says peace talks process ongoing

PESHAWAR:

Special Assistant to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has said that TTP has only claimed three attacks in the province recently and some dissent militant groups or criminals are involved in extortion cases who want to torpedo the negotiations process.

Talking to The Express Tribune exclusively on Thursday, he said that TTP posed no threat and there was only a social media hype which has been further strengthened by a nationalist party, an apparent reference to Awami National Party.

It may be mentioned here that Saif visited Afghanistan in connection with peace negotiations with TTP several times. He accompanied the delegation of Pakistani clerics which visited Kabul under the leadership of Mufti Taqi Usmani.

Barrister Saif said that the negotiation process was still going on despite what he called ‘a few’ incidents and the ceasefire was also still in place.

“The talks between government and TTP are moving forward. If any agreement is reached then it will be presented before parliament for approval. A general amnesty for militants could not be ruled out,” he observed.

He, however, added that an agreement didn’t mean anyone could be allowed to establish a state within state at gunpoint.

He said that TTP didn’t pose any threat and there should be no panic among the general public in this regard.

Saif blamed that the nationalist party (ANP) has tried its best to create panic among the public, adding that the deal with TTP during the ANP government was to establish peace temporarily but this time militants would not be allowed to annex an inch of the country and the writ of the state would be established at all cost.

Saif noted that the current federal government had no mandate and right to appoint the next army chief and it will be decided by the next elected government.

“Till the next government the current army chief could be kept as army chief,” he said, adding that the federal government was reluctant to provide financial resources to provinces and even aid for flood victims had not been released.

“PTI will take its due share from the Centre and would go to the Supreme Court of Pakistan too. Imran Khan is ready for agitation against the government and this time we will try our best,” he said while replying to a question.

The special assistant hit out at Rana Sannullah and said that there is no constitutional excuse to stop the long march against the government.

“Centre has asked for manpower to stop the PTI long march but the provinces should not provide it,” he argued.

Barrister Saif once against stressed that Imran Khan was removed from power through a conspiracy and the current government, which was established with ‘foreign help’, could not run the country so the PTI would put pressure on the government through protests.

“This time we will start long march with all arrangements, so no one will be able to stop,” he stressed, adding that it is a misperception that Imran Khan wants to appoint the new army chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2022.