Pakistan govt chided for appeasing terrorists

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has come under fire from opposition lawmakers for its policy towards terrorist groups.

Speaking in the Senate on Monday, several opposition members hit out at the rulers for appeasing terrorist and extremist forces.

A number of senators voiced concerns over negotiations between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

They regretted the government was talking to an outfit that openly challenged the writ of the state and conducted deadly attacks.

They demanded Pakistan’s Afghan strategy and the recently-announced National Security Policy be debated in parliament.

Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani accused the state of patronising extremist forces. The TTP continued violating a ceasefire agreement, but the government was still ready for talks with it, he alleged.

Over the last 10 days, eight terrorist attacks had happened across the country, said Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party.

Another senator, Nawabzada Umar Farooq Kasi, said talks with terrorists only encouraged them. He asked the government to stop appeasing extremists

But Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said talks with TTP had stopped as demands of the outlawed group were against Pakistan’s security interests.

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