A petition has been filed in Pakistan Supreme Court to prevent the civilian government and military from holding negotiations with dreaded militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Islamabad, May 29/Nationalturk – A Pakistani journalist has filed a petition in country’s Supreme Court to prevent new civilian government and military from holding negotiations with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) saying such an act is forbidden by Constitution of Pakistan.
In the petition filed by freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai yesterday, it was said how can armed forces of country propose a truce with rebels on the territory of Pakistan?
While making Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) through its chairman and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam as respondents, the petitioner sought to know whether a citizen was empowered by country’s constitution to negotiate peace with a private army (TTP) waging war on Pakistan.
He requested the apex court to direct JCSC chairman to pre-empt any contact between TTP and any politico-religious person/party advocating peace with the militant group. “The ISI chief should also be directed to identify people, who were in contact with TTP and their mode of communication.”
The petitioner also prayed that court should seek view from JCSC chairman whether armed forces have lost any ground or territory to militants in the country. “The court should also direct JCSC chairman to identify the areas from, where the TTP militants were threatening the security of Pakistan and report the action taken against them”.
‘Double-crossing by politico-religious elements should be stopped’
Orakzai said he intended to seek an instant halt to what he said double-crossing move of some politico-religious elements to impose a disgraceful armistice on the bleeding armed forces of the country. “These elements were in fact seeking religious and moral victory for the Taliban rebels,” he contended.
He also argued in his petition that armed forces could not engage themselves in any political activity individually and collectively. “The peace talks with TTP are nothing but politics and seek a reversal of the state policy under the two previous political governments”.
The petitioner demanded that court should investigate how TTP suddenly thought of peace talks few days before elections and nominated three guarantors to bridge the credibility gap with the government and the armed forces. “The TTP continues to resort to violence and tried its utmost to disrupt the elections through bloodshed,” he added.
Before May 11 general elections in Pakistan TTP had expressed desire to hold peace talks with the new government. After winning the elections, PML-N chief and Prime minister designate Nawaz Sharif has said he was not averse to holding talks with TTP.
However, some sections of civil society and people have criticized holding of parleys with TTP, saying that talks cannot be held with ‘killers’.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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