NOWSHERA/PESHAWAR: Chief of Taliban negotiation committee Maulana Samiul Haq has appealed to both the government and Taliban to announce ceasefire immediately.

“It is the duty of the government not to allow bombardment on innocent citizens, as this would further deteriorate the situation,” Maulana Sami said while addressing a prize distribution ceremony at Darul Uloom Haqqania here on Friday.

He said that announcing ceasefire and holding to it was the duty of both the parties. He called upon the ulema to present a proper agenda in front of the nation for liberation of the country from foreign clutches. The gathering was also addressed by Maulana Dr Sher Ali Shah and Maulana Anwarul Haq.

Maulana Sami said that the basic cause of tussle between the Taliban and government was the support of Pakistan to foreign powers. He said that some foreign powers and liberal elements and politicians of Pakistan were showing their anti-Islam feelings, which he termed a “fashion of the day”.

He said that anti-Islam forces were targeting the religious institutions and their curriculums. He said that the religious institutions were preaching Islam and had no link with terrorism.

He said that terrorist activities in the country could be effectively ended if the government reviewed its foreign policy and announced termination of its alliance with foreign powers.

He said that if the government could not talk with the US on the basis of equality the latter would be encouraged to target any part of the country.

In Peshawar, member of Taliban negotiation committee Prof Mohammad Ibrahim condemned the gunship helicopters’ shelling in Hangu district.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he said that there were reports about the killing of women and children in the shelling. He said that US warplanes had bombed Salala checkpost in Mohmand Agency for two hours, but the Pakistan Army did not take action at that time.

He said that his party, Jamaat-i-Islami, strongly condemned the shelling in Hangu. He claimed that the government and army had decided in principle to launch operation in tribal area. Prof Ibrahim said that if the army started operation, thousands of families would be rendered homeless and there would be surge in terrorism across the country.

He said that interlocutors were making efforts to bring the two sides to the negotiation table, but the government was not interested in talks. He castigated statement by the federal interior minister in which he said that army had been authorised to take action. “The army does not need the government’s permission to start operation,” he said.

Prof Ibrahim said that the government and its negotiation committee were powerless to meet with Taliban committee. He said that he had contacted Taliban leader Azam Tariq who offered that the TTP was ready for talks with the government in the light of Quran and Sunnah.