The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), terming arrests, raids, shelling and prisoners’ torture a violation of ceasefire, has said that such steps are affecting the conducive environment for the dialogue process.
In a statement on Wednesday, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid accused the security agencies of continuing military action in the tribal areas even after the announcement of ceasefire by the TTP. He said that search operations and shelling was being carried out in Bajaur and Mohmand Agency, adding that raids were also being conducted in Karachi, Peshawar, Kalachi and other areas in which innocents were being nabbed.
Shahid said prisoners being held in Peshawar, Mohmand and Karachi central jail were being tortured and prisoners from Karachi central jail were being transferred to other jails of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab without any reason. Due to these transfers, the families of the prisoners cannot meet them and were facing difficulties, he complained.
The spokesman said that the TTP is seriously implementing the ceasefire agreement and has also disassociated itself from Al-Ahrarul Hind and Jandullah, who have not agreed on the ceasefire agreement. We will not allow anyone within our ranks to violate the agreement, he said.
However, certain elements within the government ranks are bent upon sabotaging the talks process, he said, also that the government should control such elements.
“We expect the government to take immediate notice and focus on stopping such incidents so that the dialogue process can meet a successful conclusion,” the TTP spokesman said.
The TTP had announced ceasefire on March 1 to revive the stalled dialogue process between their intermediaries and the government negotiators.
The unilateral ceasefire was declared after the government dialogue team had refused to proceed with peace talks unless the TTP stopped carrying out attacks, and announced an unconditional ceasefire.