Prominent clerics from the Deoband school of thought have urged the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to declare ceasefire in the name of Allah and his messenger Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
In a joint statement issued here after a crucial meeting, held under Salimullah Khan on Monday, the clerics called upon both parties to halt armed action until the outcome of the peace negotiations.
They said the country was in a civil-war like situation and some elements wanted to close the doors for peace.
They expressed satisfaction on the decision by the government, the military and the Taliban about ending the civil war through dialogues. They also said that bloodshed was not the solution to any problem.
The meeting was attended among others by Mufti Rafi Usmani, Maulana Mufti Taqi Usmani, Dr Abdul Razaq Sikandar, Maulana Fazl Muhammad, Qari Hanif Jalindhari, Syed Adnan Kakakhel, Maulana Muhammad Hasan, Maulana Mukhtaruddin and Maulana Abdul Baba Shah Mansoor.