LAHORE: Forming a sort of anti-Taliban alliance, at least 50 Barelvi school of thought groups have demanded the government declare extremists as well as their supporters, whether political or religious, as enemies of the state and traitors.

The demand came at a multi-party conference held under the banner of Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Risalat Mahaz here on Wednesday.

MQM leader Abdul Haseeb, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen leader Nasir Abbas Sherazi and a PML-Q delegation participated on special invitation.

“Patronizing and supporting the Taliban should be declared a serious crime against the state and those found guilty of the criminal act be dealt with an iron hand and given exemplary punishment to eliminate militancy from the country,” read the joint communiqué issued at the end of the gathering.

Opposing talks with the Taliban, it sought closure of the dialogue chapter for good since, what it said, the policy had badly failed and that an all-out war was the only option to establish peace.

“Negotiations with banned outfits are unconstitutional… the army should be given a free hand to crush terrorists and the operation should continue until elimination of the last terrorist.”

It asserted that entire nation was unanimously standing behind the armed forces and the government for crushing Taliban through a decisive military operation.

Directly attacking the Jamaat-i-Islami and JUI, both religious outfits having influence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it termed them political wings of the Taliban.

The conference decided to launch a countrywide “Go Taliban Go” drive and observe Friday (Feb 28) as the Anti-Taliban day.

Welcoming the support for army operation by the MQM, MWM, PML-Q and Tehrik-i-Insaf, the communiqué said the nation and patriotic parties were unanimous on eliminating the Taliban.

Alleging that the terrorists active within the country were being patronized by the US from Afghanistan, it demanded that Kabul should hand over all wanted terrorists to Islamabad and stop allowing the use of its territories against Pakistan.

Prominent among the participants were former federal minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza, Sunni Tehrik chief Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, Jamia Naeemia’s Allama Raghib Hussain Naeemi, TNRM president Razaul Mustafa Naqshbandi, Almi Tanzim Ahle Sunnat chief Pir Afzal Qadri, Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadri, JUP Sawad Azam chief Pir Mehfooz Mashadi.