Peace talks with Taliban: JUI-F sponsored moot will seek input from tribal elders

A seven-member team from tribal areas will also attend the APC.

ISLAMABAD: Unlike the Awami National Party-led All Parties Conference (APC), the one proposed by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) will invite tribal elders and attempt to craft both a peace plan and a timeline for meaningful talks with the Taliban aimed at bringing peace in the country.

The proposed APC will be held on February 28. All religious and political parties have been invited, in addition to a seven-member delegation of elders from the tribal areas.

The APC is designed to garner support for the negotiation plan offered by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to the government of Pakistan last month

The TTP also sought guarantees from three leading politicians JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-N head Nawaz Sharif and Syed Munawar Hassan, the ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami.



On February 14, the ANP organised in Islamabad a similar multi-party conference, which was attended by two dozen political outfits, except for Imran Khan’s PTI and the Jamaat-e-Islami. “Unlike the previous APC, we will give a feasible formula and timeline for talks as per the recommendations by all parties”, said JUI-F senior leader and spokesperson Maulana Muhamamd Amjad. “We hope that all the participants will give their input for developing a feasible and doable work plan as to how and when to initiate talks with the TTP,” Amjad said.

“There is a need to develop a consensus based strategy to overcome the menace of terrorism,” he said.

JUI-F senior leader and former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akram Khan Durrani said that JUI-F has extensively worked with tribal leaders for maintaining peace in the restive areas.

“It will be much better if the responsibility of maintaining peace is entrusted to the tribal elders, who are well aware of the tribal situation”, he maintained. Durrani said that JUI-F had also suggested the ANP to invite the tribal elders in the APC, who are the key stakeholders in the peace negotiation.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2013.