Avoiding conflict: New JI chief reiterates support for peace talks
Says those opposed to negotiations are not friends of Pakistan.
Jamaat-i-Islami’s new chief Sirajul Haq. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR:
The newly-crowned chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has said negotiations are the only way to end lawlessness and bring peace back to the country.
Talking to reporters at the JI’s provincial headquarters following a meeting with Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Sirajul Haq underscored the need for the political and military leadership of the country to be on one page.
He said the JI was playing its due role for making the talks between the government and Taliban a success and termed those opposing negotiations as “no friends of Pakistan”. Haq said whenever the security and integrity of Pakistan was at stake, all other issues take a secondary role, adding all patriotic and religious forces should join hands for Islam and Pakistan. To a question regarding the hurdles in peace talks, Haq said, “Such complex and thorny issues cannot be solved in a matter of months. They require time.”
The JI ameer said the government had taken the initiative to restore peace through dialogue and his party was cooperating with them to the fullest in this context.
JuD chief Saeed felicitated Haq on becoming the head of JI and prayed for his success.
JI’s provincial information secretary Israrullah Khan, deputy general secretary Maulana Hidyatullah, former minister Kashif Azam and Peshawar district general secretary Maulana Hamdullah Jan were also present at the occasion.
Prior to the meeting, Haq addressed a gathering of the party’s youth wing leaders from across the province and asked students to play their due role for the development of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2014.
The newly-crowned chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has said negotiations are the only way to end lawlessness and bring peace back to the country.
Talking to reporters at the JI’s provincial headquarters following a meeting with Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Sirajul Haq underscored the need for the political and military leadership of the country to be on one page.
He said the JI was playing its due role for making the talks between the government and Taliban a success and termed those opposing negotiations as “no friends of Pakistan”. Haq said whenever the security and integrity of Pakistan was at stake, all other issues take a secondary role, adding all patriotic and religious forces should join hands for Islam and Pakistan. To a question regarding the hurdles in peace talks, Haq said, “Such complex and thorny issues cannot be solved in a matter of months. They require time.”
The JI ameer said the government had taken the initiative to restore peace through dialogue and his party was cooperating with them to the fullest in this context.
JuD chief Saeed felicitated Haq on becoming the head of JI and prayed for his success.
JI’s provincial information secretary Israrullah Khan, deputy general secretary Maulana Hidyatullah, former minister Kashif Azam and Peshawar district general secretary Maulana Hamdullah Jan were also present at the occasion.
Prior to the meeting, Haq addressed a gathering of the party’s youth wing leaders from across the province and asked students to play their due role for the development of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2014.