PESHAWAR: An all parties conference convened by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has asked federal government to announce names of the negotiating team to hold peace talks with the Taliban without further delay.

A joint declaration issued after the conference held here at Al Markaz-i-Islami on Friday also called upon central government to distance itself from the US-led war against terrorism in the region. The conference issued six points declaration.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), coalition partner of JI in the provincial government, and Pakistan Muslim League-N did not send its representatives to the conference. When asked about the absence of PTI from the event, JI provincial spokesman Israrullah Khan said that PTI leaders should be asked about their absence.

Pakistan People’s Party, Awami National Party, two factions of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Pakistan Muslim League-Q and representatives of traders associations attended the APC, which was convened to discuss the prevailing security situation in the province in the wake of a series of suicide and bomb attacks in Peshawar and other parts of the province.

The declaration said that federal government should not delay negotiations with the Taliban in Fata and constitute a team of negotiators immediately. It said that APC expressed serious concern over loss of lives and destruction of properties in terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas.

It said that 140 people were killed in the attack on All Saints Church near Kohati Gate, 20 in explosion in bus and 42 in the car bomb blast in Qissa Khwani Bazaar in one week. It said that several resolutions and recommendations passed by the Parliament, APCs, and parliamentary committees on national security had not been implemented so far.

The ACP convened in Islamabad on Sept 9 gave mandate to the federal government to start talks with the Taliban to restore peace in the region, but no serious step had been taken so far.

“The prevailing situation has created a sense of fear and uncertainty among the people of KP and Fata, therefore, central government should start talks without further delay. The federal government should ensure presence of every armed group in the peace talks,” said the declaration.

The conference set up joint action committee comprising representatives of political parties and various civil society groups including traders to continue efforts for holding talks with the Taliban. The provincial government was asked to take proper steps for the security of provincial capital and the federal government should also be requested to make contribution in this regard.