| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Talks can restore peace in Swat, Malakand: Hoti |
| 2008-03-05 |
| Amir Haider Hoti, the Awami National Party (ANP) candidate for the chief minister slot said on Tuesday that peace could be restored in Swat and Malakand regions only through dialogue and that the coalition government would include clerics, militants and all concerned parties in the peace process. Hoti was briefing the media at the Shahi Mehman Khana after a meeting with newly elected members of the provincial assembly (MPAs-elect) from Swat and Malakand division. The would-be chief minister warned his government would take action against all those who do not participate in the peace process and continue negative activities. ANP Provincial President Afrasiab Khattak, General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Senior Vice President Baz Muhammad Khan were also president at the meeting. Hoti said he discussed in depth the Malakand situation and restoration of peace with the MPAs-elect. He said the incoming government’s priorities and policies also came up for discussion. Hoti said different proposals were forwarded but there was a consensus among the members that peace was possible only through negotiations. “That’s the only way and clerics, militants and all those concerned be included in the peace process,” Hoti added. Hoti said his government would also review the policies of the previous government in this regard and remove the flaws, adding that the meeting did not discuss the formation of government or distribution of ministries. Referring to the renaming of the province as Pakhtunkhwa, Hoti said talks were in progress with the PPP and decision would soon be made in this regard. Waqar Ahmed, MPA-elect from PF-82 Swat-3 who attended the meeting, told Daily Times, “We discussed a lot on restoration of peace in Swat and will unfold our plan after the formation of the government.” |
| Posted by:Fred |