The development came after the Government of Pakistan formally invited Imam-e-Kaaba Abdul Rahman al Sudais to visit the country, requesting him to issue a religious decree (fatwa) against suicide bombings and urge militants to shun violence. PHOTO: FILE
The Imam-e-Kaaba, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ibne Abdul Aziz al Sudais, has urged the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to pursue peace talks, which he deems as the only way to shun violence in an Islamic state.
In a crucial meeting with one of the key Taliban intermediaries – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq – Imam-e-Kaaba urged the government and Taliban committees to keep the proposed dialogue intact as “this is what Islam teaches Muslims”.
Key leaders of the Saudi Shura had invited the JUI-S chief, who briefed the former about the latest development in the peace process.
“Maulana Sami will convey a special message of peace [to the Taliban Shura]. Imam-e-Kaaba was very happy over the latest development [TTP’s announcement for ceasefire],” Taliban Committee Coordinator Maulana Yousaf told The Express Tribune.
The development came after the Government of Pakistan formally invited Imam-e-Kaaba to visit the country, requesting him to issue a religious decree (fatwa) against suicide bombings and urge militants to shun violence. An aide of the JUI-S Chief said the Grand Mufti will soon visit Pakistan as Maulana Sami also requested him to advise the government on how to deal with the growing threat of extremism in the country.
Earlier on Monday, when the JUI-S chief returned to Islamabad, he spoke to the media at the airport where he asked the government to establish “peace zones” in some volatile areas. Terming this a necessary exercise for conducting meetings between the two peace committees, he explained, “Peace zones will ensure our [committee members’] security – this is what we need to pursue peace talks.”
He condemned the suicide attack on the capital’s district courts premises but added that he was glad that TTP had kept itself away from the incident.
He warned against the derailment of the peace process, saying that the government and the TTP should not blame each other for any attack and should look out for the “the third enemy”. The enemies of peace should be exposed and kept away from the peace talks. “The entire nation wants negotiation process to move forward” and the two committees were working for peace in the country, he said, adding that negotiations will have a logical end.
Good vs bad Taliban
Separately, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said the ceasefire announced by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan will bring fruitful results, maintaining that “the country was saved from destruction after the TTP and the government decided to halt armed attacks.”
Talking to the media at the Islamabad airport on Monday, he said the latest ceasefire would help the government identify those involved in terror activities who do not want peace in the country.
With the latest positive move toward the peace process, he said, “God has given us another chance to solve the issue peacefully and move in the right direction.”
He reiterated that his party was not in favour of a full-scale military operation in North Waziristan.
The United States does not want peace in Pakistan and wants to retain its forces in the region, the PTI chief claimed.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2014.
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