APC calls for negotiations with Taliban

Senior political and religious leaders on Thursday called for talks with the Taliban militants to end bloodshed in the country.

A day-long conference, attended by leaders of 24 mainstream parties, greed that attaining peace through dialogue should be the first priority’.

The All Parties Peace Conference was called to formulate a joint stand against terrorism and to respond to dialogue offer by the Taliban.

In a declaration the participants called for resolution of the issue of terrorism in the ambit of Constitution‚ law‚ security and sovereignty of the country.

It emphasized that peace needs to be restored in the country so that the loss of valuable lives can be stopped and the country could be put on the right track for economic and social development.

The declaration called for steps to improve law and order situation and safeguard precious lives.

The participants appreciated and acknowledged the sacrifices given by the leaders and members of political parties.

The moot demanded of the Federal and Provincial Governments to development compensation packages for heirs of martyrs and those injured during war on terror.

The conference, organized by the ‘Awami National Party’ (ANP), also called for concrete steps for restoration of peace in troubled areas so that internally displaced persons could go to their homes with honour and dignity.

The ANP, which rules the militancy-hit northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, had called the conference days after the Taliban killed the party’s senior Minister, Bashir Ahmad Bilour last month.

Only two main parties – the hardliner Islamic group ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf or Justice Movement, led by cricketer-turned politician, Imran Khan, had stayed away from the conference. They said the ANP wants to use the moot for political motives.

Organizers said the conference discussed a joint response to the Taliban conditional dialogue offer.

Pakistani Taliban in a video interview offered talks to the security forces on February 4. The government has asked the Taliban leadership to declare a ceasefire first before the talks are to be started.

The Taliban have so far refused to announce ceasefire and also attacked a security check post and a police station in the northwest on Thursday, just hours before the conference started in Islamabad.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Feb 14 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.