NOWSHERA, Sept 7: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has sought help of Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, for release of his son Ali Haider Gilani from custody of the Taliban.

Talking to reporters at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak on Saturday, Mr Gilani said he requested the Maulana to use his influence with the Taliban to secure release of his son.

Haider Gilani was kidnapped on May 9.

The former prime minister said the issue of terrorism should be resolved through dialogue because the use of force would not yield a lasting solution to the problem.

Maulana Sami said terrorism could not be eradicated if the government did not withdraw support to the United States in the “war on terror”.

He said peace would come automatically to Karachi, Balochistan and other parts of the country once the government reviewed its policy.

In reply to a question, the Maulana said he had not received an invitation to attend a multi-party conference on terrorism convened by the government on Sept 9.

He called upon the government to implement resolutions passed by such conferences in the past.

Maulana Sami expressed disappointment over the performance of the PML-N government in the centre and the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan had initially showed willingness to start dialogue with the Taliban, but with the passage of time they lost interest.

Asked about his possible help in the recovery of Haider Gilani, he said once the problem of war on terrorism was over, such incidents would end automatically.