difa-e-Pakistan Chairperson Maulana Samiul Haq adressing the parcipants of a rally against US drone strikes. PHOTO: INP
Difa-e-Pakistan or Pakistan Defence Council (DPC) Chairperson Maulana Samiul Haq on Sunday said they were expecting the new leadership of the Taliban to start talks with the government to restore peace in the region.
Addressing a protest, organised by the DPC, against the incursion of American drones in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Sami said the people would strongly oppose the Nato supply line if drone strikes are not stopped.
“We are confident the new leadership of Taliban will opt for peace dialogue with the government,” said Sami. He also urged the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to cease violence and solve matters through negotiations.
Sami termed drone attacks ‘a sheer violation’ of Pakistan’s sovereignty aimed at destabilising the country.
Starting from Fawara Chawk, the rally came to an end outside the Peshawar Press Club. Hundreds participated in the rally and held placards inscribed with slogans against Nato supplies and drones strikes.
“TTP’s chief was killed at a time when they were going to start the peace process,” said Maulana Sami.
“People of this country have been living in insecurity for long and the region might once again be drenched in blood due to the possible retaliation by militants. The government has to muster the courage to isolate itself from America’s war,” Sami urged.
Leaders of other parties in the DPC also said peace could only be restored through talks. They demanded the ruling parties to warn the US to stop drone attacks otherwise they would block their supply line to Afghanistan.
The rally was headed by Maulana Samiul Haq, also the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S). Leaders of other religious parties including Sunni Ulema Council District President Mufti Najeebullah, Ahle-Sunnat Wal Jamaat District President Maulana Darwaish, Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party’s Ibrahim Qasmi, Jamaat-ud-Dawa Provincial President Ateequr Rehman Chohan and Maulana Haseebul Haq Haqqani represented their parties.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th,2013.
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