BANNU: A Jamaat-i-Islami leader and member of the TTP’s negotiating committee, Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, said on Sunday that the Taliban had expressed willingness to release some high-profile people as a goodwill gesture.

Talking to reporters after a training session for JI workers here on Sunday, Prof Ibrahim did not rule out release of Ali Musa Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer and Dr Prof Ajmal Khan, the former vice chancellor of Islamia College University, Peshawar.

He criticised the PPP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party for their stance on the ongoing talks between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and claimed that these parties did not want the process to succeed so that a situation arose for a military operation in North Waziristan.

He said these parties advocated use of force to solve problems in tribal areas, though such actions had always proved to be an exercise in futility in the past.

He said that “patriotic parties” would not allow anyone to sabotage the talks and added that the process would reach its logical conclusion. He hoped that negotiations would help restore peace and ultimately put the country on the path to progress.

He said both the government and the Taliban shura wanted the talks to continue.

Prof Ibrahim claimed that many among those accusing the Taliban of not accepting the Constitution had themselves violated it time and again. The 1973 Constitution was the fruit of the untiring efforts of 33 renowned religious scholars, he said, adding that a powerful lobby was trying to create confusion on the issue.

He said if the ruling class was ready to abide by the Constitution, Jamaat-i-Islami was prepared to make it obligatory for the Taliban to accept the statute. If implemented in true and spirit the constitution could stop what he called vulgarity on TV channels.

He said there was peace in tribal areas, but the situation got changed because of the wrong policies of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf after 9/11 attacks in the US. He held Gen Musharraf responsible for uncertainty and security problem in the country. He said the situation prolonged because former president Asif Ali Zardari continued policies of his predecessor.

Prof Ibrahim said peace could not be established through the use of force.