Elements in govt harming peace process should be reprimanded: Shahidullah Shahid

TTP spokesperson alleges detainees in Karachi and in Ghalani in Mohmand agency were subjected to 'torture.'

ISLAMABAD: “The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fully respects the ceasefire and has also disowned groups like  Ahrar-ul-Hind and Jundullah. However, many elements in the government are trying to harm the dialogue process. The government should control and reprimand them,” spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the TTP will make serious efforts to take the dialogue process forward and will not allow any of the TTP members to violate ceasefire.

“We expect the government will also take immediate notice and will focus on stopping such incidents to take the dialogue process to a successful conclusion,” the TTP spokesman said.

The TTP had announced ceasefire on March 1 to revive the stalled dialogue process between their intermediaries and the government negotiators.

The unilateral ceasefire was declared after the government dialogue team had refused to proceed with peace talks unless the TTP stopped carrying out attacks.

Torture

Shahid also alleged that detainees in Karachi and in Ghalani in Mohmand agency were subjected to “torture”, adding that prisoners were unnecessarily being shifted from Karachi Central Jail to interior Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

The TTP spokesperson said relatives of prisoners were facing problems in dealing with cases and meeting with them as a result of these transfers.

“We do not understand logic behind this decision,” Shahid added.

Continued ‘arrests, bombings and raids’

The TTP claimed that the government has continued “arrests, bombings and raids.” It described these acts as violation of ceasefire and detrimental to the “conducive environment for peace dialogue.”

“The Pakistani security agencies have continued activities in different areas despite declaration of ceasefire. Bombings and search operations are being carried out in Bajaur and Mohmand tribal regions,” Shahid said.

“Several innocent people have been detained during raids in Karachi, Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda and Kulachi during search operations and raids,” the TTP spokesman added.