Opposition Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman may again have to step in to save the 2006 peace pact with Taliban militants in North Waziristan, after an all-tribes jirga requested the local Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam MNA to approach his party chief. A member of the jirga told Daily Times on Wednesday that JUI MNA from North Waziristan Maulana Nek Zaman had been asked to approach Maulana Fazl to break the deadlock over the question of removal of security check-posts, with both the government and the militants sticking to their positions on the issue.
“We told the MNA that as the Maulana sahib had played a role in the deal last year he can play the same role now as well,” the member said on condition of anonymity.
“The JUI-F MNA was told the Maulana sahib should talk to (President Gen Pervez) Musharraf to elicit some sort of flexibility from the government on removing the check-posts. What we want is that both sides move away from their present stands to keep the negotiations going,” the jirga member said. The Taliban pulled out of the accord on July 15, saying the government had violated the September 5, 2006, deal by re-establishing check-posts.
On Tuesday, NWFP Governor Ali Jan Orakzai rejected the Taliban demand for removal of the check-posts, saying the Taliban “have to guarantee peace” first. He told the jirga members that deteriorating law and order prompted the security forces to take control of the check-posts. Jirga members from North Waziristan dashed to Miranshah on Tuesday to try and secure a Taliban guarantee for peace as a pre-requisite for withdrawing the check-posts, after they declined to offer this guarantee on behalf of the Taliban.
Maulana Fazl was instrumental in convincing Taliban leaders to reach the deal with the government last year. Tribal sources in Miranshah told Daily Times that the Taliban could change their stance on the withdrawal of security check-posts if Maulana Fazl intervenes. “His request will be difficult for the militants to ignore,” they said.