PESHAWAR: Shortly after favouring the government’s talks with the Taliban militants on Tuesday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra backtracked.

The governor told reporters after visiting a health facility in Hayatabad here that the government was open to talks with any force.

He said there was not a single force with whom the government was unwilling to hold talks even if they’re the Taliban.

“If the Taliban have anything genuine to say, there is no harm in talking to them. However, it doesn’t mean we will bow down or surrender this way,” he said.

However, soon after the TV channels aired the footage, the Governor’s Secretariat issued a statement clarifying the governor’s earlier announcement on talks with the militants.

In the statement, a spokesman for the Governor’s House said although Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had mentioned negotiation process in his media talk, it didn’t refer to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, which was a terrorist organisation.

Jhagra first said no harm in talking to militants but later insisted he spoke about Pak-Afghan dialogue

“The government of Pakistan has already banned the TTP and therefore, the question of talking to it doesn’t arise. What the governor talked about the negotiation process refers to Pak-Afghan talks,” he insisted.

The spokesman said the governor had said the government bowing down to terrorists could never happen and that could be judged from the success of the Zarb-i-Azb military operation against militants.

In another statement issued by the Governor’s Secretariat, Mr. Jhagra condemned the suicide bombing of the Charsadda district courts on Tuesday.

He praised the police personnel deployed there for demonstrating ‘exemplary spirit of courage and bravery’ during the terrorist attack.

The governor expressed deep shock at the loss of precious lives in the bombing and said the nation would always remember such sacrifices.

“The cowardly acts of terrorism can never deter the courage and determination of the nation against terrorism. The entire nation is fully united and determined to fight terrorism,” he said.

The governor prayed that the Almighty Allah rest the departed souls in peace and give courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss with patience.

Earlier, the governor said quality education played a huge role in the development and prosperity of a society.

He was talking to reporters after presiding over the Board of Governors of the Institute of Management Sciences Hayatabad.

The governor said the students were a national asset as they’re supposed to play an incredible role towards development and stability of the country.

He said the educational institutions were responsible for equally focusing on extraordinary activities alongside fully materialising the curricular requirements for ensuring proper nourishment of the students, said the statement.

After being briefed about the working of the institute, the board unanimously approved the four years extension in the services of Dr. Mohammad Mohsin as the IMS director.

The higher education secretary, Khyber Medical University vice-chancellor, IMS director and other board members were present in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2017