Govt not serious for talks with Taliban: Fazl, Nawaz

Govt not serious for talks with Taliban: Fazl, Nawaz.........http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/206246/

February 8, 2013

Farooq Mehsud
 
D.I. KHAN/LAHORE: JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman has said the government is not taking seriously the offer of dialogue by Taliban, adding, the government is running the agenda of America and can not start negotiations with Taliban without prior permission of America. This he said while addressing a press conference after meeting with Pir Fawad Raza Zakori on Thursday.
He said he or his party had no contacts with Taliban but he welcomed the offer of the TTP and suggested to negotiate with Taliban through a grand tribal Jirga.
He added that some forces were trying to delay the general election in Pakistan, but democratic forces were united and would not allow such forces to delay polls in Pakistan. He also said some forces were trying to make controversial the Election Commission of Pakistan, but 'we will not allow them to do so'.
JUI chief said the name of Asma Jahangir had not come up for interim setup at any platform, adding, consultation among the opposition parties was under way for interim setup in Pakistan. He added, it was a surprise for him that main opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz seemed to be on the side of government to impose Governor's Rule in Balochistan, adding that being a democratic person, he opposed every undemocratic steps including Governor's Rule in Punjab earlier.
"Once again the sectarian forces are on the rise, and now the time has come that people of Pakistan understand who were the main force to wage war in the country", he said while replying a query about the killing of religious clerics in Karachi.
He also said that Reko Diq Project was important for financial improvement and mineral exploration in Pakistan, but foreign forces were trying to deprive Pakistan of its mineral resources. He added, 'the mineral resources are spread over 415km while in the international report it is shown on only 3km, which shows the ill-intention of the international forces'.
He said, "JUI will not allow anyone to misuse the national resources and foil all such planes of anti Pakistan forces".
Maulana added US and other western powers wanted to bring dictator in the country and wanted to derail democracy.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday has suggested the government to seriously consider the talks offer by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In a statement, the PML-N chief has said that the government should initiate effective and meaningful talks with TTP immediately. Besides this, he declined to become the guarantor in the talks. In the wake of past performance, the government had lost its credibility, therefore it was not possible for any party to be "guarantor" of government's conduct, he added.
He mentioned that dialogue seemed the best solution to the dispute with TTP as the war had brought forth colossal damages to the country.
PML-N strongly believed in conflict resolution through dialogue. Progress and prosperity was conditioned with peace in the country. Immediate efforts for peace were required, he added.
PML-N chief held the view that pressing the government for talks with Taliban after their proposal was not new as the Parliament already had passed the resolution which stressed to adopt all possible and concrete measures to solve the issues.
It is pertinent to mention the TTP had called on Pakistan government for pre-conditioned talks. According to details, TTP demanded PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan to play their role as guarantors for successful talks.

Chief JUI-F and JI had shown their overwhelming support for talks between the government and TTP earlier. Both the leaders were optimistic to resolve issues through dialogue and also offered to be guarantors if they were approached formally.