PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Saturday raised objections over the names of Rustam Shah Mehmand and Major (retd) Muhammad Amir in the four-member committee formed by the government to facilitate talks with the Taliban militants.
However, media citing Taliban sources reported that the TTP shura expressed reservations over the names of two of the dialogue committee members but it did not raise any objection.
TTP demands Imran Khan, Maulana Samiulhaq, Mufti Kifayatulah, Professor Ibrahim and Maulana Abdul Aziz in the committee
The media reports said that TTP demanded of the government to include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Jamiat Uleme-e-Islam Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Samiulhaq , Jamiat Uleme-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Mufti Kifayatulah, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Professor Ibrahim and Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz in the government-constituted dialogue committee.
Moreover, a nine-member political shura of the TTP headed by Qari Sakeel will negotiate with the government committee.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday constituted a four-member committee for talks with the Taliban, saying the government has adopted the path of talks with the Taliban to give peace another chance in the lager interest of the country.
The committee includes the premier’s advisor on national affairs Irfan Siddiqui‚ veteran journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai‚ former ambassador and expert on Afghanistan affairs Rustam Shah Mehmand and a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Major (retd) Muhammad Amir, while the federal interior minister who remained a focal person for the dialogue process will assist the committee and he will personally monitor the whole process.
