Top Pakistani politicians have extended full backing to the efforts to initiate dialogue with the Taliban. The political leaders of almost all the parties – excluding Imran Khan”s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) – gathered at the Convention Centre to participate in an All-Party Conference (APC) convened by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), reports The Nation.
They drew out a five-point joint declaration calling upon the Grand Jirga to start dialogue with Taliban and asking the government to provide necessary support and enabling environment to ensure peace ahead of the general elections. It further proposes that a trust be established to fund and look after the families of those martyred and injured in terrorism incidents. The Grand Jirga should initiate talks with the parties concerned in guidance of all the political and religious parties, it added. Reading out the five-point joint declaration after the moot, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said that all the parties have backed the joint declaration.
However, he did not mention whether top political leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, Munawwar Hassan and he himself would also go along with the jirga members to meet with Taliban delegation. Earlier, while addressing the conference, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said the government should give positive response to Taliban offer for dialogue as peace is imperative for the development of any country. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Munawar Hasan said the Taliban offer for peace dialogue should be accepted, adding that it is the need of the hour.
———-ANI