MINGORA: Jamaat-i-Islami provincial chief and member of Taliban negotiation committee Prof Mohammad Ibrahim said here on Sunday that there were a lot of hurdles in holding direct dialogue between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

However, the negotiation committee would continue its struggle to assist both the sides to achieve the objective of restoration of peace, he added.

“We are struggling to remove mistrust between both the sides so that peace process can be accelerated,” Mr Ibrahim told journalists after addressing a donor conference, organised by local chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami.

He said that government and Taliban were showing seriousness in the talks but lack of trust was the major obstacle that had been causing difficulties since the peace process was initiated.

Mr Ibrahim said that militancy didn’t surface in days and weeks rather the country had been facing law and order situation for the last 12 years. He alleged that the policy of Pervez Musharraf created law and order situation in the country.

The JI leader said that security forces should play their role in the peace process. They started the war and they should shoulder major responsibilities for its peaceful end, he added. Mr Ibrahim said that there was consensus among all political parties that peace should be restored through dialogue. The All-Party Conference, held on September 9, 2013, also empowered the prime minister to take steps for resolving the issue through peaceful means, he added.

He said that they were not trying to create gap between the government and army. He asked the political parties to express their concern at proper platform instead of issuing statements to media. “Yes, we have the right to issue statements for clarification when chief of army staff and chief of air staff issue political statements,” he added.

Prof Ibrahim said that rulers claimed that government and army were on the same page. “If it is the case, it is a great achievement,” he added. He said that restoration of peace was their dire desire and they would continue their struggle for the cause.

To a question, the JI leader said that neither peace could be restored through military operations nor Sharia could be implemented through suicide attacks.

To another query, he said that Imran Khan did not take JI into confidence about launching protest against the alleged rigging in the last general elections in the country.

Mr Ibrahim said that the PTI chief would take part in Allama Tahirul Qadri’s drive. “I don’t understand as to why Imran Khan took this decision. It doesn’t reflect political maturity,” he said.

He said that JI had also reservations at election results in some constituencies in the province and Fata but it was not a proper time to take up the issue.

PPP: The local chapters of youth and women wings of Pakistan People’s Party have demanded of the central leadership of the party to restore all sacked office-bearers.

Addressing a joint press conference here on Sunday, the sacked divisional president of Peoples Youth Organisation Khurshid Ali Buhadarkhel and district president of PPP women wing Naseem Akhtar alleged that the party’s units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dissolved on the suggestions of conspirators.

They said that the decision of the party leadership was undemocratic. They alleged that Swat and other districts of Malakand division were not given proper attention during the previous government of PPP.

They said that they were neglected in provision of jobs and other facilities. The PPP leaders said that they were supporting PPP women wing former provincial president Asma Alamgir.

The party’ wings, especially women wing, showed better performance during the by-election in Swat. “We were leading at 10 polling stations for women in the constituency and stood second at six other polling stations,” Ms Akhtar said.

She said that instead of recognition of their services, the party’s wings were dissolved. She demanded of party’s leadership to restore all the sacked office-bearers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She said that they would launch protest against the party leadership across the province if the demand was not fulfilled.