PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution pushing the federal government to begin dialogue with the Taliban for peace without delay in light of the guidelines of the recent All Parties Conference.

Also, the House expressed solidarity with the families, who lost members during the recent suicide bombing of All Saints’ Church in Peshawar, besides condemning terrorist attacks in the Qissa Khwani Bazaar and against the bus of the Civil Secretariat employees.

Over 144 people killed and more than 200 injured in these attacks.

Provincial Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Israrullah Khan Gandapur and the opposition members moved the unanimous resolution after the discussion on the current wave of terrorism and prevailing security situation in the province was over.

The session called on the requisition of the opposition was later adjourned for indefinite period after two days discussion.

The resolution said the assembly condemned attack on the church and that victimisation of minorities was an attack on the ideology of Pakistan.

It demanded that the provincial government ensure protection of minorities, chalk out elaborate plan for the security of the institutions of minorities and take concrete steps to eliminate militancy.

The resolution said: “The federal government should start process of dialogue under the guidelines of the APC to restore peace in the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

Winding up the debate, the law minister said the government had prior reports of attack on churches but where it would be carried out was unknown.

He said the provincial government had set up a task force to deal with the situation.

Earlier, lawmakers of the treasury and opposition benches urged the federal and provincial government to take practical steps for restoration of peace.

The opposition members asked the government to expose ‘third party’ involved in the recent acts of terrorism in Peshawar, especially after the Taliban didn’t claim responsibility for them.

PPP lawmaker from Chitral Saleem Khan said it was the prime responsibility of the federal government to begin negotiations with the Taliban and restore peace in the country for good.

He said the issue of militancy could not be resolved by passing condemnation resolution and rhetoric and that the provincial and federal governments would have to take bold decisions for the purpose.

The lawmaker said the federal government should ensure halt to the US drone strikes in Fata, while the provincial government should halt Nato supplies passing through its land forthwith.

PTI Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said if the US could talk to the Afghan Taliban, then federal government should also begin negotiations with the local Taliban for peace.

He said APC gave mandate to the government to begin talks with the Taliban but some elements were trying to sabotage the peace process.

MPA Qalandar Khan Lodhi said the government should not delay holding talks with the Taliban.

Mufti Fazal Ghafoor of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl said undeclared night curfew had been imposed in Peshawar terrorising people.

He urged the government to highlight ‘guidelines’ followed for the restoration of peace in the province.