The Committee comprises senior journalists Irfan Siddiqui and Rahimullah Yusufzai‚ former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand and former ISI officer Major Amir (Retd). The Prime Minister made this announcement while giving a policy statement about prevailing law and order situation in the country on the floor of National Assembly. The Prime Minister came to the House just on seven occasions in seven months. He was received by his party's MPs with thumping of desks. The Opposition said the entire opposition stands by the government for security, stability and sovereignty of the country and it will not do any politics on sensitive national issues.
--- Committee formed to hold talks with militants comprises Irfan Siddiqui, Rahimullah Yousufzai, Major Amir and Rustam Shah Mohmand. The Prime Minister would himself oversee the four-member Committee while Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would assist it to get the desired results. The Prime Minister said that peace is not only our priority but our destination and the entire nation is united to achieve this goal. He said that negotiations and terrorism can not go hand in hand.
"It is prime responsibility of the government to protect life and property of citizens," he said, adding the spate of death and destruction should come to an end without any further loss of time. The Prime Minister said he has consulted all stakeholders, including politicians, intellectuals and religious leaders to devise a unanimous strategy to tackle the menace of militancy and terrorism. Sharif said he is giving peace another chance with good intentions and hoped the other party will reciprocate in the similar manner. The game of fire and ammunition should come to an end now, he emphasised.
While responding to a point raised by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah that the opposition fully supported the dialogue process with Taliban but the timeframe of talks should be fixed and it should not be very long, the prime minister said. "I think, at the initial stage of negotiations, talks on timeframe may also be held."
While responding to the suggestion of Imran, the Prime Minister said he believes in a transparent dialogue with the other party within some timeframe. He said that Rustam Shah Mohmand has been included in the committee on the recommendations of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to make the dialogue process transparent. The Prime Minister said that war against terrorism will be won at all costs either through the dialogue process or an operation. He said all the political parties are required to be on the same page in this regard.
He said the entire nation would have supported him‚ had his government opted for the operation for eradication of terrorism; however‚ "we want to give peace another chance." He said terrorists will not be allowed to hold the nation hostage. "Killing one person is the killing of the entire humanity. No cleric would issue a decree to justify the killings of innocent civilians," the premier said. He also said terrorists have got nothing to do with Islam.
The Prime Minister showed sympathies with the families of those killed in terrorist attacks and drone strikes‚ adding that the government is making all-out efforts to bring an end to drone attacks. He said terrorist acts in response to the drone attacks are not justifiable because these are not carried out by the Pakistani people. The Prime Minister invited all the political parties to join hands with the government and give valuable suggestions for the success of peace process.
In an apparent reference to former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), Sharif said the nation is faced with terrorism for the last 14 years owing to wrong policies of an unconstitutional government. "A dictator's first priority is always to protect his rule," he said, adding the government was mandated by an All-Party Conference to hold a dialogue with militants to protect life and property of citizens, but the militants did not respond positively.
Giving a count of terror acts carried out by militants after an initial offer of dialogue from the government, the premier said the Taliban attacked security forces, killed Major General Sanaullah Niazi, carried out bomb blasts in Bannu, Rawalpindi and at a church along with Qissa Khawani bazaar in Peshawar. The premier also said that polio workers are being targeted while the government still seeks to settle the issue amicably.
"The government is doing its best to halt US drone strikes," the premier said, adding there is no justification for terror attacks in reaction to the drone attacks. Sharif said the government would tolerate no further terror attacks as the international community is raising questions on the credibility of Pakistan. "We will not allow terrorists to hold the country hostage. The whole nation is committed to eliminating terrorism," he said.
The prime minister also said if the government decides to launch a military operation against the militants, the whole nation would support it. "The militants should halt their terror activities as dialogue and terror attacks could not go hand in hand," he said.
Later, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said that Taliban must hold out a surety that they would observe ceasefire during talks. "I assure the Prime Minister that the opposition would support the government and it wants that dialogue of the Committee with Taliban must move forward successfully," the Opposition leader said.
He said the Opposition has given mandate to the PML-N government for a dialogue with Taliban in All Parties Conference (APC). "We are with the government for peace and sovereignty of Pakistan," he added. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan supported the government's initiative for dialogue process. However, he said that there is confusion in and out of the Parliament.
He said the nation should be kept abreast with the dialogue process through media. He also welcomed that Sharif would himself oversee the dialogue process. He said those militant groups, which did not want dialogue, must be isolated while those with positive thinking should be approached.
He said that there is a vast difference between the statements of Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sirtaj Aziz and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. Imran said that Sanaullah had announced that the government would launch an operation against militant groups in Punjab.
Chief of JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman appreciated the Prime Minister for again according priority to peace and dialogue process and giving a future roadmap for negotiations. He said his party will support the dialogue process to accomplish the goal of peace and stability. However, he said the government did not discuss with him and his party the formation of the Committee despite the fact that his party is government's ally. He obliquely criticised the prime minister for using strong words in his peace talks offer to Taliban.
MQM leader Farooq Sattar voiced concerns over the recent acts of terrorism and said the government should seriously make efforts towards bringing peace to the country. The prime minister said the Rana's statement is inappropriate and he will hold talks with him on the issue.