ISLAMABAD: One of the members of Taliban’s committee of negotiators, Prof Ibrahim of Jamaat-i-Islami, has contradicted a statement of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that there is no deadlock in the peace talks between the government and the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“The process is currently stalled and we hope that the talks will resume soon,” Prof Ibrahim told media personnel after a conference held here on Tuesday under the aegis of Milli Yekjehti Coucil.

He, however, said the ceasefire announced by the Taliban was still in place and that both sides understood the importance of peace.

He said there was no further progress in the process of talks. “Both sides have their own compulsions, but we hope they will soon proceed for talks,” he added.

The interior minister said on Sunday that there was no deadlock in talks with the TTP. He even said that the next round of talks might be held this week. According to the minister, the government had already released 19 non-combatant Taliban prisoners and 13 prisoners would be released soon.

The JI leader contradicted the claim of the minister that Taliban prisoners had been released. He asked the government to show some seriousness to make the dialogue process successful.

He said there was still a trust deficit and stressed the need for both sides to develop confidence in the process.

“The question about the venue of talks is being raised only because of the lack of trust. If both sides trust each other they can hold the next round of talks even in Islamabad or Peshawar,” he added.

Prof Ibrahim criticised the PPP leadership and termed statements of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as “immature and unreasonable”.

He said that raising the issue of the release of Shahbaz Taseer and Ali Haider Gilani was premature.

CONFERENCE: Speakers in the conference called for sectarian harmony in the country. They said sectarian terrorism in the country was conspiracy of foreign powers.

JI chief Sirajul Haq said that religious parties should play their role to rid the country from sectarianism.

Other speakers included Hafiz Saeed of Jamaat-ud Dawa, Qari Hanif Jhalandhari of Wafaqul Madaris, Shafqat Sherazi of Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen and Zubair Ahmed Zaheer of Jamiat Ahle Hadis.