SIALKOT: JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq has said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has shown undue haste in inviting Indian prime minister-elect Narindar Modi to visit Pakistan.

Speaking at a press conference at Daska’s Darul Aloom Medina here on Sunday, he alleged Modi had killed thousands of Indian Muslims therefore Nawaz Sharif should have thought twice before inviting him to the country.

Maulana Sami expressed hope about resumption of talks between the government and the (outlawed) Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, saying the state was sincere in solving the burning issue of terrorism.

“I think the disgruntled elements in the Taliban have agreed to resume peace talks with the government,” he said. He reiterated some elements were trying to derail the peace process to pave the way for operation in tribal areas.

The JUI-S chief said operation was no solution to the problem and negotiation was the only way to bring about peace. Efforts to restore peace would continue and the government and the army should encourage these, he said. The Taliban, he said, did not violate the truce.

He urged all the national institutions to focus on the one-point agenda of establishing durable peace, saying the Taliban were fighting to save Pakistan and Afghanistan from conspiracies of India. Pakistan should improve its relations with all neighbours, he said.

KHWAJA ASIF: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Muhammad Asif has stressed the need to promote politics of tolerance in the country.

Speaking to newsmen at his residence, he urged the politicians to shun conflicts and short-term interests. He said PTI chief Imran Khan was doing the politics of conflicts by raising the ante about alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

“Both Imran Khan and Pervez Musharraf do politics through the social media,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2014