ISLAMABAD: Chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S), Maulana Samiul Haq, who also head the Taliban negotiating committee said on Monday that the list of prisoners whom the Taliban want freed had been received and would soon be discussed, DawnNews reported.

Talking to media persons in the federal capital, Sami said the Taliban's announcement of a one-month cease fire should be taken as a blessing and all women, children and elderly in government captivity should be released.

He said the whole nation was united for peace talks and that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had shown political maturity over the issue. He also said that the government's negotiating committee had made efforts to end the deadlock existing between the government and the Taliban mediating committees.

He said the Taliban's condemnation of today's attack in Islamabad was a welcome gesture, adding that the approach of the group was also commendable.

Sami said public sentiment was taken into consideration by deciding to hold talks and these negotiations should reach their logical conclusion.

Maulana Sami also said that every attack should not be attributed to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), adding that the outlawed militant organisation would have to dissociate itself from all terror attacks taking place in the country.

He also said that enemies of the country would keep carrying out attacks to derail the negotiations and peace talks would have to be protected against internal and external conspiracies.

Sami said following the 9/11 attacks the decisions of a dictator had brought destruction to the country.

He further said that even the parliament had demanded a review of the enslaving policies.

Opinion

Editorial

Iran endgame
Updated 03 Mar, 2026

Iran endgame

AS hostilities continue following the Israeli-American joint aggression against Iran, there seems to be no visible...
Water concerns
03 Mar, 2026

Water concerns

RECENT reports that India plans to invest $60bn in increasing its water storage capacity on the Jhelum and Chenab...
Down and out
03 Mar, 2026

Down and out

ANOTHER Twenty20 World Cup, another ignominious exit — although this time Pakistan did advance past the first...
Khamenei’s killing
Updated 02 Mar, 2026

Khamenei’s killing

THERE is no question about it: with the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and...
NFC reform
02 Mar, 2026

NFC reform

PLANNING Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for forward-looking reforms in the NFC Award has reopened an important debate...
Migrant crisis
02 Mar, 2026

Migrant crisis

MIGRANT casualties represent the lifelong pain of families left behind. Yet countries do little to preserve ...