Peace overtures: Rehman Malik offers olive branch to Taliban
Interior Minister Rehman Malik invited the Taliban on Sunday to prove themselves Pakistanis by renouncing violence and sitting across the table with the government for peace talks.
“Standing in the historic city of Lahore, I urge the Taliban to come and join us in pursuit of durable peace instead of violence for our future generations,” he told journalists outside the Governor House.
Responding to a query regarding sectarian groups involved in violence, Malik said if such organisations seek forgiveness, there was no harm in giving them a chance.
Asked about the possibility of granting citizenship to illegal immigrants, he said the matter would be taken up, adding that all immigrants would be offered relief according to the country’s law.
He added that all such immigrants who entered Pakistan illegally – whether they hailed from Afghanistan or Bengal – their stay was illegal until a decision was made by the government.
When quizzed about the petition of Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan in the Supreme Court, Malik said he would not speak on the issue since the matter was sub judice. However, he added that the interior ministry had enough material in the Mehran Bank scam.
Malik said the FIA was in possession of the documents recovered from the Mehran Bank, asserting that Younus Habib was convicted in the light of these documents.
The minister dispelled the impression that any conspiracy was behind the Asghar Khan case, asserting that the PPP had always been a victim of conspiracies in the past as false cases were registered against President Zardari and Benazir Bhutto by Saifur Rehman in the 90s.
The minister said that the elements who became a party in the Memogate scandal must also go the Supreme Court in the Asghar Khan case.
Regarding former president Pervez Musharraf’s red warrant, Malik said the government had communicated the court orders to Interpol, adding that the PML-N wanted a treason case to be registered against the former dictator and he had offered the PML-N leadership to lodge a formal complaint against Musharraf since the PML-N government was toppled by him.
He said the government did its duty but no such complaint was lodged by the PML-N.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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In the same way, Taliban have their reservations and conditions, as the interior minister expressed the condition of the Government on many occasions.
For example, Reman Malik want Taliban laid down their arms before attending the talks, offer of negotiation is gone through this condition.
On the other hand, Taliban's stance,Pakistan to quit friendship with the United States and support their cause of independence,subsequently according to them,they are ready laid down their arms against Pakistan.
Pakistan's bilateral relations with the *United States had been strained after salala outpost incident in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed by American attack,since then American leadership requesting for better relations and reopening for supply routs but Pakistan did not response in positive.
In this way , circumstances are very complicated, the better solution of this complicated problem is that three party conference be held and all the related issues be discussed, United State will leave Afghanistan one day,better is that should now go back without any further delay.
Mehrangate has become a examination room for some higher personalities. It is nightmare for politicians,being named by the former head of the Mehrab Bank.
In this case, documentary evidence mean the relevant papers,which show without any doubt,illegal transaction, being alleged by Younis Habib.
No doubt, agood step has been taken by inviting Taliban to the negotiating table. According to my considered opinion movement has begun to the right direction. most time been wasted ,the line of action being adopted should be adopted prior to come to this stage.
history is witness, the issues,which were not resolved in the battle field table take solved the matter without any carnage or bloodshed.
Being a member of the illegal outfit and entrance into Pakistan can not be tolerated at any cost,in case they laid down their arms this matter would have automatically settled
Last time Imam e AlQuds palestine came to tribal area in 1970 to request for peace and this who gonna come???
Pathetic - you cannot negotiate with animals that want to take pakistan back to the stone ages
My man
now because malik is ppp so he is liberal and not labeled as exremisit if Ik has said this
Apple-Banana moment!
Peace deals need credible people with some respect and integrity, not people like you.
CIA agents TTP are there to instigate violence and bloodshed. They are there to benefit US who don't believe in win win situation, from first day they serve US interest of destabilizing the region. TTP are paid to be violent, why would they make peace? Looks like Mr. Rehman is very naive or maybe worse, he is part of the apparatus which does nothing but aid further US occupation in the region.
GOP should make it amply clear to the TTP that this is their last chance for peace since they have a history of breaking its commitments and indulging in more bloodshed of innocent civilians and security forces in the past.
Nobody pays attention to Rehman Malik...just wait another couple of days he will be saying just opposite!