ISLAMABAD: The federal minister for interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Monday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will take the National Assembly into confidence regarding the government’s future course of action against the Taliban.
In his address on the floor of the National Assembly on Monday, the interior minister said that the prime minister is holding consultations and he will also consult the Parliament and the political parties on how to proceed further.
The interior minister said that national consensus is prerequisite for the success of dialogue with or military operation against militants.
Nisar said that in the first phase‚ consultations will be held with intelligence agencies and parliamentary leadership followed by national political leadership. He said that both dialogue and military operation are not easy as there is no formal party on the other side.
The minister said that contacts with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were in advanced stage and there was written correspondence between the two sides including signed letter from the TTP leader Hakeemullah Mehsud. He said that the process was sabotaged by killing of Hakeemullah Mehsud.
Chaudhry Nisar said that efforts were again made to establish contacts with the new TTP leader Mullah Fazlullah‚ who is in Kunar‚ Afghanistan‚ but he was non-responsive.
Nisar said that the option of establishing contacts with other groups within and outside the TTP was used and significant success was achieved‚ but then the Bannu attack came.
The interior minister said it is strange that the TTP was not responding positively when contacts were being made but now when the nation is forging consensus on the need to tackle the problem either way‚ the TTP is favouring talks.
The minister said that it is the decisive moment in history of the country and we will have to forge consensus for whatever strategy has to be adopted.
Meanwhile, in response to speech of interior minister in the National Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan extended support to the government on countering terrorism but demanded repeatedly to take politicians into confidence on the progress.
The PTI chairman also assured not to politicking on this issue but demanded that the prime minister should ensure leadership to the nation.
Imran said that some Taliban groups are being funded from abroad and when the government tries to start talks with some groups other opt for blasts.
