QUETTA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Kattak has stressed the need of dialogue to bring peace in the country.
"Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face similar challenges which include natural calamities, terrorism and other issues," he said during his visit to Balochistan. Khattak was addressing a press conference along with Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch at the Balochistan CM Secretariat on Thursday. Khattak said that the PTI government was determined to provide a uniform education system and create ease for the masses.
He said that he had come to Balochistan to express his solidarity with the earthquake victims of the province. He said that the other provinces of the country expect Punjab to play the elder brother's role, and added that to change their conditions, the provinces have to cooperate with each other. "This time we are seeking peace amid a war-like situation," Khattak said. The KP chief minister said they would render all possible sacrifices to attain that goal, as uncountable people and security forces have fallen prey to the violence in the war.
"We think that the solution of every issue is consequent on talks and our eyes are on the federal government for talks and we appeal to them not to delay the process anymore," he pleaded.
Responding to a question, Khattak said that PTI's policy was clear that it wanted to seek a solution of the problem through talks. He said that the drone attacks should be stopped as innocent people are being targeted in them. He stressed the need of changing what he called was a 66-year-old system and replace it with a system which could provide rights to the poor and facilitate their lives. To another query, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister said that the acts of terrorism spoil the efforts for peace.
Khattak claimed that elements opposed to peace talks were responsible for attacks on legislators and other politicians. "Those who do not want peace to prevail in Pakistan and are afraid of revival of peace are behind the terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," the chief minister said while talking to media persons. He said that we are at war, which is continuing unabated for last one decade, but force has never been solution to any issue.
"We are struggling to restore normalcy by means of dialogue process and for the purpose Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with all mainstream political parties has given the mandate to the federation to hold talks with the Taliban," he added. Khattak stressed ending violence and maintaining peace was a reciprocal process between the government and Taliban. "There is no ceasefire so far, yet the renowned scholars are engaged in finding an amicable solution acceptable for both of us," he said.
