Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take the lead in initiating peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, as he reiterated his demand of allowing the militants to open an office.
“Military action is not a solution to the issue. The matter could easily be resolved through dialogues,” Khan remarked while talking to reporters at Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday. He asked for early talks with the Taliban, which according to him were the only way if the federal government was sincere in its claims of bringing an end to terrorism in the country.
The PTI chairman was accompanied by the party’s central secretary general Jehangir Tareen. They visited Gandapur House in Kulachi where they prayed for the departed soul of slain PTI minister Israrullah Gandapur. He was also briefed by relatives and officials about the suicide attack in which the minister and several others lost their lives.
Without mentioning name of any political force or politician, Khan said, “Those who criticise us and blame us for failure in combating trends of violence are in fact bent upon resuming violence and bloodshed in this province.” He claimed that the situation was improving day by day as the Taliban had denied involvement in the recent terrorist acts.
The PTI leader said that it was ironic that the Taliban were denying involvement in terrorism, saying, “It needs further investigation that who are involved or carrying out such immoral and inhuman acts.”
Imran throws TTP talks ball in Nawaz’s court
