Even as a suicide bomber in Peshawar blew himself up killing four women and three teachers were shot dead in Hangu on Monday, the negotiators for the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan(TTP) said the terror outfit was positive about the peace dialogue.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Prof Ibrahim and Maulana Yousuf Shah who had travelled to Miramshah and even further to an undisclosed destination to meet the TTP leaders, said that they had conveyed the government's demands to the TTP Shura. They did not specify the TTP's list of demands and said it would be presented to the government- appointed committee. Prof Ibrahim only said that the
TTP was positive about the government's initiative. At the first meeting last week, the government committee had demanded that talks must be within the constitutional framework and there must be a cessation of hostilities. The TTP nominees are expected to brief the government on their return and a meeting is likely on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Maulana Samiul Haq, a TTP nominee and leader of the Jamiat Ulema e Islam(Sami).
Meanwhile Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government is sincerely pursuing the path of dialogue and wishes to see this process a success. Chaudhry Nisar was talking to the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Shaukatullah, who met him today.
The meeting discussed matters relating to the dialogue process between government and the Taliban with particular reference to the visit of the Taliban Committee to North Waziristan yesterday. The Governor who was apprised of the talks, said that though it was a difficult process, a positive start was made through the initial contact. He said all tiers of government were geared towards making the process a success.
On Saturday, Professor Ibrahim and Maulana Yousuf Shah travelled to Miramshah meet the TTP leaders. Though there is no confirmation the TTP reportedly demanded a stop to drone attacks, the introduction of the Sharia law in courts, the Islamic system of education in both public and private educational institutions, the release of Pakistani and foreign Taliban prisoners, compensation for loss during drone attacks and jobs for families of victims, the handing over of tribal areas to local forces, withdrawal of the army from tribal areas and closing down of army check posts, cases against the Taliban to be dropped, equal rights for all, the ending of the interest based system, replacing the democratic system of governance with the Islamic system, cutting relations with the US and a stop to supporting the US war on terror.
