Govt says ready to negotiate with JI

Minister rules out allowing rally at D-Chowk

ISLAMABAD:

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday signaled the government's readiness to negotiate with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on their demands in a bid to end their sit-in.

"We are ready to talk for peace, security and development of the country which is the main agenda of our government," the minister said while addressing a news conference along with Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Amir Muqam.

The minister said JI Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman was a seasoned and far-sighted leader whose guidance would be instrumental for the government to address the existing issues within the existing framework.

He said the government was ready to form a three-member committee which would comprise of him, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Amir Muqam and PML-N Senior Leader Tariq Fazal.

Tarar called upon the JI leadership to sit and guide the government in resolving the issues instead of doing the "politics of agitation".

The JI was given permission only to stage their sit-in at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, he said, urging them to use only the dedicated place for the purpose.

Protest at D-Chowk would not be allowed at any cost since there was a possibility of a mischief due to involvement of any miscreant, he maintained.

Tarar regretted a halt on the country's development during the tenure of the PTI government which was led by a "corrupt person" who borrowed money massively and benefited himself and his close aides by selling Toshakhana gifts and striking a shady deal worth 190 million pounds.

"We understand the issues faced by the chief minister of K-P as on the one hand, he has to assure cooperation in official meetings while on other, he was answerable to the PTI founder on maintaining a (specific) public posture," he said

Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said those who allegedly resettled the Taliban in the country should come up with a plan in accordance with their claims of having a capacity to maintain the law and order and establishing the writ in the province.

He regretted that terrorism increased during the tenure of the PTI government.

The minister asked the PTI leadership in K-P to give their stance to the public on two big scandals including massive deforestation and signing of agreements with a "fake institution" on Artificial Intelligence.

Demanding action against the timber mafia, he alleged involvement of a minister of the K-P government and its officials in the massive deforestation.

As regards the signing of an agreement between the K-P government and an institution for training of students on AI, he said they were playing with the future of students who would never get jobs due to fake certification.

He said the staff associated with the "fake institution" lacked required experience and awarded their staff with their own degrees on the subject.

No staff of the institution had a proper certification on AI either, he said, adding there was no record found regarding a degree claimed by its head from the MIT.

He regretted that no process was followed for signing the agreement, wondering how the K-P government could befool thousands of students in the name of a "so-called quantum diploma".