[Dawn] Pakistain's government should take immediate steps to initiate peace talks with Talibs, says a declaration by the All Parties Conference (APC) called to discuss ways to restore peace in the country's militancy-hit tribal areas.
The APC, summoned by the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability...
-Fazl (JUI-F) and attended by major political parties and tribal leaders, also agreed on using the platform of a grand tribal jirga for peace negotiations with the Pak Talibs.
The declaration also agreed on expanding the membership of the grand jirga to include stakeholders representing all schools of thought.
The APC statement also emphasised on taking steps towards peace, keeping in consideration the law and the writ of the government.
The main ruling Pakistain People Party (PPP) and the leading opposition party, the Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz (PML-N), assured their complete support for steps taken for the establishment of peace in the country.
Addressing the conference, PML-N President  Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
urged all political parties to play their due role in meeting challenges faced by the country.
Sharif said that the offer of dialogue by the Pak Taliban should be taken seriously. He said that today not only Pakistain, but the entire region was plagued by terrorism.
He congratulated the JUI-F for convening the APC, adding: "We should keep aside our political differences and play our due role in maintaining peace in the country."
PPP President Makhdoom Amin Faheem said that his party would support every step taken for peace in accordance with the Constitution.
Speaking earlier at the inaugural address of the APC, the JUI-F chief said that talks with Pak Talibs would be useless without taking the military into confidence. Fazl also stressed that peace in Pakistain's tribal region is closely linked to peace in neighbouring Afghanistan.
"Peace in the tribal areas is linked to peace in Afghanistan. We should put the past behind us and move forward towards peace talks," said Rehman.
Pakistain Moslem League-Quaid Secretary General Mushahid Hussain asked that if dialogue with India could be pursued, then why not with the Taliban.
The moot was also attended by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society , founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer . The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
(JI) chief  Syed Munawar Hassan
... The funny-looking Amir of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. He joined the National Students Federation (NSF), a lefty student body, and was elected its President in 1959. He came into contact with the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, The Great Apostasizer. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960 and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistain in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993. After years of holding Qazi's camel he was named Amir when the old man stepped down in 2009...
, MQM Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
Chief Minister Akram Durrani, Mehmood Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), tribal elders and other leaders.
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