Syed Shamshad Haider

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Jirgas, contact groups will be used for talks with Taliban: Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said all options, including Jirgas, contact groups, etc, would be used to hold talks with the Taliban. Talking to media persons at the Parliament House, he said that holding of talks with Taliban was the unanimous decision of all the participants of the all parties conference (APC) and no one will be allowed to sabotage the talks with the Taliban. The minister said talks would be used as a measure to eliminate terrorism and would be held with all groups. The minister said talks with the Taliban would be initiated on the basis of confidence building measures and other groups such as Jirgas will also be included in the process. “Talks are not being held for the PML-N but for national interest,” he noted. He said the government would formulate a policy to eliminate terrorism in the country and talks with the Taliban would be held in the light of the resolution adopted by the all parties conference (APC).The talks are in the best national interest as consensus was reached in this regard at the APC held here on Monday, he said. Talks will be held in the larger national interest and the media should avoid reporting such things, which can create ill will before their start, he said.Rashid said Pakistan would itself devise policies for the eradication of the terrorism from the country and there would be no foreign input. He said the government was responsible for all the briefings given at the APC and some of them had been appreciated by the opposition, which meant that the government had been given credit.He said that terrorists had no religion or language and “we have to eradicate all types of terrorism with national consensus”. The minister said that details of the talks would be shared with the media and the nation as it was the right of every Pakistani to know the developments in that regard.To a question about drone attacks, he said that there was no written agreement with the United States. However, a verbal understanding might have been reached by previous governments. “The present government’s stance on drones is very clear and it has utilised the highest diplomatic channels to condemn the attacks,” he added.To another query about reported IMF conditions about imposition of a new tax on gas consumers, he said that no new tax would be imposed.

Taliban's welcoming the talks offer a good omen: Ch Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Terming Taliban's welcoming the peace talks offer a good omen, Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Tuesday claimed that there had been a marked improvement in the Karachi's law & order situation during the last few days, Geo News reported. He said this while briefing the media about the proceedings and decisions taken by the All Parties Conference (APC) held on Monday. Nisar further said that Sindh Rangers had apprehended at least 158 suspects and recovered 111 illegal firearms of different calibers during general holdups, snap-checking, and targeted raids conducted on credible tip-offs in the crime-torn megapolis. "The suspects include extortionists, target-killers, street-criminals, etc. A large number of them admitted having affiliations with different political parties", Nisar said. Commenting on the APC, he said this APC would go a long way in ensuing security in Pakistan as it truly served the purpose for which it was held. "APC was a huge success. All the parliamentary leaders belonging to different political parties were on the same page with regard to national interests. No personal or party agendas were pushed during the meeting", said he. Nisar said if political leaders continued to join hands for national interest the security situation would improve by leap and bounds. He said the APC did not decide to hold talks with the Taliban to pave way for a military operation, adding it was an absolutely 'homegrown decision'. "A dialogue and not an operation is the only way to a lasting ceasefire, but it was highly unfortunate that a former military dictator launched an action in the restive tribal region towing the lines of some foreign powers, which set the whole country on fire", he said. The interior minister said that the government would formulate a framework for dialogue, however the political parties and the media would also be taken into confidence in this regard. "We have not yet stared any formal dialogue with Taliban. A framework for talks is ready but I cannot disclose its details now", said Ch Nisar replying to a question. Replying to a question, Nisar said that the Tehrk-e-Taliban's (TTP) welcoming the government’s offer for holding peace talks was a good omen. Nisar also clarified that during the APC the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani never said that certain "journalists" were trying to create misunderstandings was baseless. "The army chief never used the word "journalist". A news story published/aired in a certain section of press claiming that COAS criticized the mediamen in this was was baseless", said the interior minister. Chaudhry Nisar also warned media of watching caution while airing news involving national issues like this initiative of peace negotiations with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "A misreport or negative news can sabotage while a positive one can help the situation. The media will have to show more responsibility.”

new provinces in the country - Altaf Hussain

LONDON: Muttahdia Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has said that a public campaign would be launched very soon for the movement for formation of new provinces in the country, Geo News reported. This he said while speaking to Pakistanis, living in Pakistan and abroad besides people of different organizations who called Altaf Hussain and extended their support to the demand of creation of new provinces. They also appreciated Husain’s demand for new units. Altaf Hussain said small and big public meetings would be organized to ascertain the opinion of the masses for creation of new provinces, adding the first meeting of this kind would be held in Seraiki belt after that the circle of this campaign would be widened. He said the date and venue of the public meeting would be announced soon. Earlier in a statement, Altaf Hussain had demanded the formation of new provinces in Pakistan. He said new provinces were necessary for national welfare, security and prosperity.

two police personnel were tortured to death

ISLAMABAD: A drug peddler was killed in police firing while two police personnel were tortured to death by the residents in Dora area, the suburbs of Islamabad, Geo News reported. According to police, on the tip-off, two police officials ASI Ramzan and constable Ansar arrived in Dora area to get information about the presence of drug dealers where exchange of hot words took place with drug peddler Nadeem. The accused was killed in police firing on the spot. Meanwhile, the residents of the area tortured the police personnel to death while the informer was injured. The area people said Nadeem was about to marry within few days.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

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