Talks with government: TTP seeks military's ... - PKVIDS News

Spokesperson says political leadership in Pakistan ?has no powers?. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID

ISLAMABAD:?

In the wake of the army?s new doctrine ? recognising homegrown militancy as the ?biggest threat? to national security ? the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has decided to seek guarantees from the military for any peace dialogue with the government.

?Our central Shura (council) has unanimously decided to ask for the army?s guarantee for any talks with the government,? TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told The Express Tribune by phone on Saturday.

He said the Taliban needed assurances from the security forces as the political leadership in Pakistan ?has no powers.?

?Although we have not yet received any response to our dialogue offer, our leadership still hopes for a positive response,? Ehsan said.

However, he ruled out any ceasefire with the government. ?Our war is based on Islamic ideology as Pakistan was also achieved on the slogan of Islam. We have no option but to fight for Islam. This is our obligation,? he said.

?The Taliban leadership is of the opinion that the army?s doctrine was aimed at us when they say that they face internal threat or threats from western borders and that is why we will look for the army?s assurance,? the TTP spokesman said.

Justice system

Asked about the credibility of the banned group?s justice system, Ehsan said the group had their own system and regularly sought advice from religious scholars.

?If they kill our people, if they kill our prisoners, our teachers and our children then they will face similar fate. We will react and it is a tradition in our society,? he said, adding that the group also punished its own people if found guilty. ?Recently, our religious scholars handed down death penalty to a TTP man and he was subsequently executed.?

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.

Article source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/489718/talks-with-government-ttp-seeks-militarys-guarantees/

Source: http://news.pkvids.com/2013/01/06/talks-with-government-ttp-seeks-militarys-guarantees/

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