Govt tells senators Taliban holding talks ‘means they recognise constitution’

PML-N parliamentary leader says no one can change constitution without being elected, getting two-thirds majority.

ISLAMABAD: Assuring the Senate that talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan will be held within the ambit of the constitution, the government said those who want amendments in the constitution should get elected and make the changes after getting a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Speaking in the Senate on a motion moved to discuss law and order situation, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s parliamentary leader in the Senate Mushahidullah Khan said the Taliban engaging with the government in dialogue clearly means they recognise the country and the constitution.

On Maulana Abdul Aziz’s demand for implementation of Sharia law to be on the agenda, he said, “Any group can neither impose Sharia nor announce jihad. Anyone who wants to amend the constitution should first enter into electoral politics, get two-thirds majority, and change the constitution. We will accept such amendments [to the constitution] only.”

He also criticised the opposition parties in his speech whom he accused of backing out of the peace process after they gave the go-ahead to hold talks.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said dialogue should not be interpreted as the government’s weakness. “The government also has a second option if the talks fail to produce results. But, we want to use that option only if necessary.”

“The government is not confused. It has clarity in its stance. Dialogue is our first priority as [it is] mandated by all political parties,” he added.

He said the country’s national security policy has been approved and it will soon be implemented as a whole. The government has started the partial implementation of the policy, which is generating desired results, the minister added.

Balighur Rehman particularly called for better coordination among security agencies and improved intelligence sharing among provinces.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said that Taliban were more interested in getting their prisoners released rather than the enforcement of Sharia law in the country. He claimed that the government seems defeated in the ongoing talks. He substantiated this by saying that only 30% of Taliban members live in the tribal areas, while the remaining 70% of their ideological supporters were spread throughout the country.

The explosive-laden vehicles in Karachi, Lahore and other major cities don’t come from the tribal areas, he asserted, adding the bases of terrorists are the cities where these attacks take place.

“I would like to make it clear that my party [the Pakistan Peoples Party] is not against the peace talks, but the way these talks are taking place, it is not acceptable.” Without giving out any names, he said the Taliban have now become part of some political parties. “In the dialogue and negotiations, it seems like the Taliban are holding talks with the Taliban.”

The PPP stalwart continued criticising the composition of the government’s negotiators and the TTP intermediaries, saying that Maulana Abdul Aziz has been included in the Taliban committee, who plainly opposes the presence of women and minorities in Parliament. Aitzaz demanded the government include Shias, women and minorities’ representatives in its negotiation committee.

Token walkout against DISCO privatisation

The opposition parties staged a token walkout for four minutes against the decision of the Council of Common Interests to privatise the provincial electric supply distribution companies (DISCOs).

Speaking on a point of order, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator Nasreen Jalil said law and order in Karachi has deteriorated since the government launched a so-called Rangers and police operation.

She said this operation was being carried out against her party and its workers were being targeted. She said ten workers of her party were killed by police torture while 1,800 others were granted bails only after they bribed the police.

With additional input from APP.