PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is considering including the names of senior journalist Orya Maqbool Jan and Ansar Abbasi in its peace committee tasked to hold talks with the government-appointed committee.
The statement came after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Jamiat Uleme e Islama –Fazl’s (JUI-F) Mufti Kifayatullah distanced themselves from being the part of dialogue process from the Taliban side.
In a statement, the TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that two more names are likely to be finalized soon for its peace committee.
Shahidullah Shahid said that the names of senior journalist Orya Maqbool Jan and Investigation Editor, The News International, Ansar Abbasi which were being considered for the Taliban committee in the past are still being reviewed for nomination.
The TTP spokesman regretted the decision of the JUI-F of choosing not to be a part of the dialogue process, saying Maulana Fazlur Rehman does not even have confidence in his own self.
In response to the government’s talks offer and nomination of a four-member peace committee, the Taliban nominated a five-member team for negotiations. It includes PTI chairman Imran Khan, Jamiat Uleme e Islam – Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Samiul Haq, Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief Professor Muhammad Ibrahim and former MPA Mufti Kifayatullah of the JUI-F.
However, the PTI chairman Imran Khan and the JUI-F’s Mufti Kifayatullah distanced themselves from being the part of dialogue process.