Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Taliban welcome Kurram truce


Taliban welcome Kurram truce

PARACHINAR, Feb 7: The banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has welcomed a peace agreement between Shia and Sunni groups in Kurram Agency and pledged to abide by it.

Addressing a press conference, Kurram TTP Amir Fazal Saeed said violators of the accord would be punished in accordance with the Sharia law.

The government has announced a reward of Rs5 million for the capture of Fazal Saeed.

The militant leader's support for the peace accord is being considered here as a major development.

Local people are fed up of sectarian violence afflicting the area for a long time, leaving over 2,000 dead and 3,500 injured. Over 3,000 families have left their homes for other places in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2007.

The TTP leader said that if the accord was violated by the rival group, his side would inform the administration and jirga members and act only if no action was taken for 15 days.

He offered to cooperate with the security forces, administration and jirga in implementing the accord.

Fazal assured the Shia community of protection and said they should use the Thal-Parachinar and other roads without any fear.

He called upon Shia elders to play their role for the success of the accord.

The peace agreement was reached by leaders of the warring Shia community and Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat in Islamabad after over two years of negotiations by a jirga comprising more than 200 tribal elders and notables. Most of the issues were sorted out in the 'Murree agreement' signed in 2008.

Sajid Toori and Munir Orakzai, lawmakers from the region, were the main players behind the truce. Malak Waris Khan, a former federal minister and leader of the PPP from Khyber Agency, headed the jirga.

Malak Waris and Political Agent Syed Musadiq Shah are expected to be in Chappari along with other tribal elders on Tuesday and announce the reopening of the Parachinar-Peshawar road which has remained closed since March 2007 because of tribal fighting.

 

SOURCE:  

http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/08/taliban-welcome-kurram-truce.html

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TTP warns violators of Kurram peace deal


SADDA: Militants of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Kurram Agency said on Monday that they would extend all-out support to the political administration and security forces to implement the peace agreement reached between elders of the Sunni and Shia sects.

Speaking at a press conference from an unknown location in central Kurram Agency, Kurram TTP chief Fazal Saeed said militants would hand down severe punishment under the Shariah if any party flouted the peace deal. Asking all the stakeholders to abide by the pact, he said nobody would be allowed to sabotage the peace process. "We will first ask the political administration and jirga members to take action against the side violating the agreement. But we will be justified to punish the violators after 15 days as per the accord," he warned.

The militant leader added that Islamic teachings strictly prohibited violation of agreements when reached by warring sides for peace and tranquility and cessation of hostilities. He urged the Shia scholars to play their role in implementing the peace agreement as it was in the interest of all the people.

Saeed asked the Shias to use roads including the Thall-Parachinar Road without any fear as the TTP was not against the peace deal between the Shia and Sunni elders for lasting peace in Kurram Agency. The peace agreement was reached between the Sunni and Shia elders in Islamabad on February 3. However, it was being feared in certain quarters that the TTP would not accept the deal.
 

SOURCE:  

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=30046&Cat=2&dt=2/8/2011

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