Govt, Taliban reps meet today to forge ‘goodwill’

* Irfan Siddiqui to call on committee nominated by Taliban

* Sami warns of attempts to sabotage dialogue process

* Says Taliban demands would be known when the committee meets them

* Taliban mulling names of Orya Mabool Jan and Ansar Abbasi in place of Imran Khan and Mufti Kifayatullah

The committees formed by the government and banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will meet today (Tuesday) at 2pm, sources said.

The decision came following a telephonic conversation between Samiul Haq, member of TTP committee, and Irfan Siddiqui, coordinator of the government’s committee. Sources said that from the government side only Siddiqui will call on the Taliban representatives in a goodwill gesture.

During the conversation, Sami informed Siddiqui that they were serious about the dialogue process. Sami also spoke to Major (r) Amir.

Meanwhile, the TTP nominated committee held its first meeting on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Samiul Haq and attended by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Professor Ibrahim and Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz.

TTP committee members JUI-F’s Kifayatullah and PTI Chairman Imran Khan did not participate in the meeting.

Sources said that while addressing the meeting, Sami hoped that the government would find a better solution to problems while holding dialogue with the Taliban.

Professor Ibrahim said he was very optimistic about negotiations while underscoring that problems could only be resolved through dialogue.

He also said that the Taliban would first demand the implementation of Shariah law in Pakistan, and said if the government had really wanted to impose it in the country in a democratic manner, it could have easily been done in the past 65 years.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Sami cautioned that several attempts would be made to sabotage the dialogue process. He added that the Taliban’s demands would be known once they meet them.

Commenting on the absence of Imran Khan, Sami hoped that the PTI chairman would make the right decision.

Sami added that the committee would meet again in the next few days. He said the procedure and place of dialogue would be finalised after meeting with the government-formed committee. He said every effort would be made to complete this process soon‚ but it is not possible to give a time-frame at the moment.

The JUI-S chief said the Taliban have not set any conditions for the talks so far. He said Yousuf Shah would be their team coordinator.

Professor Ibrahim said the Taliban committee was fully authorised to make decisions. He also urged the media to play a constructive role in the success of the dialogue.

TALIBAN MULLING OTHER NAMES:

Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman expressed dismay at the refusal by Imran Khan and JUI-F’s Mufti Kifayatullah to represent the militants in peace talks with the government.

He said that the Taliban were now considering names of Orya Maqbool Jan and rightwing journalist Ansar Abbasi as replacements for Khan and Kifayatullah.