PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Saturday expressed his pessimism about success of the peace process, saying however that his party would support all options for restoration of peace in the country.

He was speaking at the Khyber Union of Journalists’ ‘Mulaqat’ programme at Peshawar Press Club.

He said that security forces should stay away from the negotiations process as it was job of the elected government.

He asked all the political parties to play role for restoration of peace and said that it was duty of the government to get the details whether all the groups were under the Taliban’s umbrella or not.

He said that this was necessary because there would be confusion in case some other groups emerged and played with lives of the people.

Mr Sherpao asked the government to directly take part in the second phase of the peace negotiations.

He, however, said that the government should take any decision in consultation with leaders of all political parties and other stakeholders to the peace process after Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan put forward their conditions or demands.

Commenting on regional situation, the QWP chief said that the government should frame a concrete strategy to cope with the situation following draw-down of the US-led alliance troops from Afghanistan.

He said that his party would support any democratically elected government after the April 3 general elections in Afghanistan.

About the recently announced internal security policy, he observed that it would be difficult to implement.

He said that under the policy the intelligence sharing among all the law-enforcement agencies was a positive step, but practically it would be very difficult.

Mr Sherpao said that the 18th amendment was a right step, but it was yet to be fully implemented to devolve rights of the province from the centre. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was yet to get its share in net hydel profit.