Fazl for clear agenda before Taliban talks

LAHORE Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has stressed upon making clear agenda and basis for talks before approaching Taliban for starting the process. Talking to the newsmen at Allama Iqbal International Airport on his arrival in Lahore on Tuesday, he said the authorities were now thinking about giving peace a chance to control militancy in the tribal areas as earlier efforts have failed to give desired results. Fazlur Rehman, who had been offering his services for engaging Taliban in talks, said the authorities should also evaluate previous wrongdoings and fix responsibility for loss of over 35,000 lives in the so-called war on terror. He suggested the federal government to take more effective steps to cut Nato supplies from Pakistan as according to him the present measures were apparently temporary. To a question about revival of six-party religious alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, he was of the view that there was need of reactivating the same as it had proved really successful in the past. MMA not only ruled Khyber PK and Balochistan provinces from 2002 to 2007, it was a significant force in the National Assembly and Senate. He said that if rulers wanted consultations on any important issue, political forces should extend cooperation.

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