Peace talks should continue: Munawar Hasan

Lahore: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan, has said that any attempt to sabotage the talks, whether from the Taliban or the government could not be justified.

Talking to the media after visiting prominent poet Afzaal Siddiqui at a local hospital, he said that military operation could not be a substitute for dialogue. If the government committee had a complaint, it could have discussed the same at the meeting scheduled on Monday (yesterday), he added. Besides, he said, the government had several investigation agencies, and if it tried to reach the bottom of the matter before accusing anyone, the situation could be saved from getting worse.

He stressed that both the sides should review their attitude and expressed the hope that the talks would resume soon as the nation wanted these to succeed.

Syed Munawar Hasan said that those advocating military operation should first try to make the ongoing operation in Karachi a success. He said that those clamoring for military operation could not see the peace talks to be successful.

Replying to a question, the JI chief stressed upon the Foreign Ministry to take serious notice of Iran’s threat of direct action. He said that the Foreign Ministry was failing in the discharge of its duties. Iran was our neighbor and brother Islamic State, and threats of military action from her simply meant another failure of our Foreign Ministry, he added.

To another question, he asked the government and armed forces to come out with their reply to MQM chief Altaf Husain’s allegation that his men were being abducted and killed. Going further, he said that if the MQM leader had any complaints against the army and the Rangers, he should return to Pakistan and deal with these directly.