KP governor to coordinate Taliban peace talks
02 March, 2013
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engr Shaukatullah said on Friday that the Governor's House would work as a liaison office between the jirga set up to hold peace talks with the militants, and the TTP leadership. Briefing media persons along with Governor Shaukatullah after chairing a meeting of the 87-member grand tribal jirga at the Governor's House on Friday, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the formation of an authoritative grand tribal jirga gave the message to the world community that serious peace initiatives are underway to bring durable peace in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by holding talks with the militant leadership. Fazl said the national leadership has given a unanimous mandate to the tribal jirga for holding talks with the TTP leadership who, according to him, has welcomed the declaration of the all-parties conference (APC) held on Thursday in Islamabad, and which had been sponsored by the JUI-F. The maulana thanked the TTP leadership for giving a positive response to the peace efforts and said that the Taliban leaders demonstrated sagacity by welcoming formation of the grand tribal jirga. In response to a question about the go-ahead to the tribal jirga, Governor Shaukatullah said the national leadership has already granted mandate to the jirga for making peace deal with the militants. The governor also announced establishment of "Shuhada Trust" to facilitate the families of terrorism victims. He also announced a donation of Rs 10 million for the trust. In reply to a question, Shuakatullah said he would seek the consent of President Asif Ali Zardari before the jirga set out on peace efforts in Waziristan. Meanwhile, Fazl added that the military leadership would support the peace initiative by the elected representatives of people. When asked about the strategy of the jirga, the maulana said that its members would now deliberate upon chalking out a line of action as to how, when and where to hold talks with the militants. End.
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