Pakistan’s Major Shia Group Opposes Talks With Taliban

Islamabad, Oct 29, IRNA – Thousands of Shiites have taken part in a conference in the Pakistani port city of Karachi to oppose talks with Taliban militants. “There would be more dead bodies if talks were held with the terrorist groups,” leaders of Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM), said. Secretary General of MWM Raja Nasir Abbas Jafari told the “Azmat-e-Wilayat Conference” that there should not be any negotiations with the Taliban as any such move would encourage them to step up their attacks. He referred to the series of recent terrorist attacks in northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar and said that the militants killed over 200 civilians in three attacks despite the government plan to hold talks with them. He said there is a need of a massive operation against the militants, adding that delay in a military operation against the terrorists might trigger a civil war in the country. Jafari said that the militants have targeted civilians including Christians, urging the government not to surrender the gang for political expediency. He also criticized the Punjab government for what he called having safe corner for the militants and said “Punjab has been turned into the center of terrorism.” The Shai leader criticized the proposal to allow the Taliban to open office, saying it shows that some leaders are afraid of the Taliban. Addressing the event another senior leader Allama Ameen Shaheedi said negotiations with militants will only result in more terrorist attacks. Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi, deputy secretary general and spokesman for the MWM, described the conference as highly successful. He said it was a historic showdown and thousands of people attended it despite the critical security situation in the country particularly in Karachi. Shia scholars, and representatives of various organizations attended the confab./end