One voice: Ulema back dialogue as only road to peace

LAHORE: JUI-S ameer and Taliban’s chief intermediary Maulana Samiul Haq has appealed to the government and Taliban to announce a ceasefire. He made this plea on Saturday while reading out a joint declaration after an Ulema and Mashaikh Peace Convention at a Lahore hotel on Saturday. More than 33 representatives from various religious schools of thought attended the convention. Participants emphasised the importance of the dialogue process and called for the use of force to be avoided if talks failed. The convention agreed that dialogue is the only way to end the continuing bloodshed in the country and that a military operation would become the reason of continuous war and unrest.

It was agreed time and again that peace in Pakistan could only be achieved through dialogue, Maulana Sami said. “If force is used, the country’s solidarity and very existence would be under threat.” On behalf of all participants, the JUI-S chief demanded that the Taliban and government avoid letting hurdles disrupt the dialogue process. The country has been in a war-like situation for 15 years because of bad policies by previous rulers. A one-page resolution made at the convention said that all participants appreciated the efforts of Maulana Samiul Haq for peace and dialogue and that they had confidence in his leadership. The participants said that the Taliban are the sons of Pakistan, and that the nation expects them to lay down their arms and join peace efforts. The resolution also said that the restoration of peace is a prerequisite for stability‚ progress and prosperity in the country. It demanded that all political and religious parties unite against anti-state elements who want to undermine peace in the country through sectarian and ethnic violence. It also said that both sides should be compelled to stop anti-peace activities. “This convention demands that all independent institutions of the country identify the real factors of unrest and ensure that the foreign policy of the country [is made] in light of repeated joint resolutions passed by parliament and all parties conferences so that the country comes out of the war,” it said. The convention demanded the media play a positive role in this dialogue. It also announced that February 21 would be marked as ‘Day of Supplication’. The resolution said that playing a role to end the continuing violence is true jihad. Maulana Sami said this convention is a message to the people of Pakistan, Taliban and the government that they want peace, which would be possible only through dialogue. He added that in Afghanistan, the use of force has failed and that dialogue is the only option for Pakistan. Similar peace conventions will also be held in Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar. Addressing the convention, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Munawar Hassan said that even if dialogue does not succeed with 100 attempts, a military operation cannot be the alternate, as dialogue is the only means to peace, Another Taliban intermediary Prof. Mohammad Ibrahim said they are trying to bring both parties face to face for dialogue. The Taliban never said that they do not accept Pakistan. If the rulers act in accordance with the Constitution, no one would have objection over the dialogue, he added. Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2014.