KOHAT: Coordinator of the Taliban negotiation committee, Maulana Yousuf Shah, has claimed that the restraint exercised by both the government and the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan after the end of ceasefire was a good sign for restoring lasting peace in the country.

Talking to journalists here on Monday, Yousuf Shah said that now the ball was in the government’s court as Taliban had been waiting for its reply about the release of non-combatants and establishment of a peace zone in the tribal area.

He said that restraint shown by both the sides would help to carry forward the peace overtures.

The JUI-S leader visited Kohat to offer Fateha on the death Qari Fateh Mohammad, who was secretary general of the party.

To a question, Mr Shah said that the government and the army were on the same page regarding the continuation of the peace talks.

He said that both the government and Taliban peace committees had requested all the stakeholders to extend their input to take the peace process to its logical conclusion.

The JUI-S leader alleged that foreign elements were creating an impression that peace talks could not move forward. “But I can assure you that talks process would meet success,” he added.

Commenting on the show of power by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan in Islamabad, he said that such events created problems for the government and diverted its attention from real issues the country was facing.

He said that Imran Khan was also a great supporter of peace process so he should use his energies for the success of the TTP-government peace talks instead of pursuing what he said non-issues.