JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman. PHOTO: INP/FILE
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman has asked the government to delineate its strategy about talks with Taliban so that the tribal jirga could initiate peace process.
Following a meeting of the JUI-F-backed tribal jirga formed to negotiate peace with militants at his party’s secretariat, Fazl said on Thursday that, so far, the government had not outlined its policy regarding the peace process and the tribal jirga regrets this.
To a question whether Taliban still backed the jirga for peace talks, Fazl said that they never expressed a lack of trust in the jirga. He said that jirga elders hoped that the government still stands by its promise done with the people of Fata to bring peace in the region. He demanded that the government should take steps for initiating peace process according to jirga’s agreed course of action.
JUI-F chief said that jirga also recorded its protest over drone strikes and said that such attacks were sabotaging peace process. It further demanded of the government to take concrete steps to stop drone attacks in tribal areas of the country, he added. The jirga also expressed its concern over the delay in rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from tribal areas, said Fazl.
This jirga was formed last year to bring peace in Fata. Prior to general elections, the national leadership had backed the jirga’s efforts for bringing peace in the country, while the TTP had also expressed its confidence in jirga efforts.
He said that previous government could not initiate steps for peace in light of the All Parties Conference declaration. Fazl also welcomed the appointment of new army chief and hoped that Gen Raheel Sharif will redevise the strategy for peace in the country.
He said a meeting of religious parties on Friday will discuss sectarian wedge in the aftermath of the Rawalpindi incident. “We should not keep circle on a single issue which has been protested and debated,” Fazl said in a reference to Rawalpindi incident, adding that the Friday meeting will seek proposals to permanently solve sectarian issue in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.
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To a question whether Taliban still backed the jirga for peace talks, Fazl said that they never expressed a lack of trust in the jirga. Just the way IK will say "but TTP did not accept responsibility for attacks" even when TTP factions admit to it. Maulana wants everybody to presume that TTP will come to the table for talks even when they have repeatedly said that they won't.He wants assurances from Pakistani Government,Army and CIA ;just not from TTP.