ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf has called for finding a political solution of the ongoing war against the Taliban, saying that military operation would aggravate the already volatile situation.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, PTI chairman Imran Khan said that about 140,000 troops were engaged in the fight against the Taliban for the last eight years, but instead of easing the crisis was deepening.

He appealed to all Pakistanis to play their role in finding a political solution to the problem and save the country from further death and destruction. Mr Khan tried to dispel a perception that the PTI had any affiliation with the Taliban or was supporting terrorists. “My only purpose is to establish peace and save the country from further destruction,” he added.

Referring to the Malala case, he said he had immediately visited Peshawar to inquire after her health. “Since Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had accepted responsibility for the attack, I condemned them for this terrible act,” he said but added that some vested interests had been portraying the PTI as a pro-Taliban party.

He said it would not be fair if killings of other innocent people in drone attacks, bomb blasts and violence were ignored. He said Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had told an all-parties conference that the army had done its job and now it was for the politicians to find a solution of the problem.