Against all traditions: Fazl condemns attack on foreign trekkers

Claims trust must be established with Taliban before setting conditions for peace talks.

PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday strongly condemned the killing of foreign trekkers, claiming it was against Sharia and the country’s culture to kill guests.

Addressing media personnel at the JUI-F office, Fazl said the brutal killings orchestrated by the Taliban at Nanga Parbat base camp were against Islamic laws. “The killing of guest trekkers is tantamount to abrogating the country’s constitution,” he asserted.

Gunmen in paramilitary uniform overran a mountaineering base camp in the early hours of Sunday and shot dead 10 foreign climbers, including Chinese and Ukrainian nationals, who were resting during a climb up Nanga Parbat, the 9th tallest peak in the world.

Touching on the topic of peace talks with the Taliban, the JUI-F chief said trust should be established prior to setting any conditions for talks. “Attacks and peace dialogue cannot go together,” he added, stressing building trust was the most important part of making the dialogue successful.

Fazl maintained the United States should also restore this trust with the Taliban and other stakeholders prior to setting any conditions for peace.

JUI-F’s parliamentary leader in the provincial assembly Akram Khan Durani along with other senior leaders including Maulana Lutfur Rahman, Maulana Jalil Jan and Israr Ullah Khan Gandapur were present at the JUI-F office for the briefing.