NOWSHERA: Maulana Samiul Haq, the head of the Taliban negotiating team and chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, has said that some forces in the country are creating what he called an ‘artificial’ crisis to divert government’s attention from real issues.

“Sometimes these elements start a war between the army and the government and sometimes between the media and institutions,” he said while addressing a public meeting held to pay tribute to late Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim Fani at Akora Khattak on Sunday.

The meeting organised by JUI-F was also addressed by its chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Maulana Sami said he and Maulana Fazl held the same view on the ongoing peace process between the government and Taliban. He said the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan should focus on talks instead of calling for a ceasefire.

Maulana said war would benefit no-one and those calling for military action were “enemies” of the country. He said both sides would have to exercise restraint because foreigners wanted war, and not peace, in Pakistan.

He said the media and anchorpersons were advocating war while scholars supported the peace process. He regretted that whenever there was progress in dialogue some elements tried to sabotage it. Both sides will be held responsible if there is a surge in hostilities.

He said the nation would have to unite to foil the designs of foreigners. There is still hope and talks between the government and Taliban committees will resume soon.

He praised the role of the army in defending the country’s borders.

Maulana Fazl strongly criticised the Americans and said they regarded Islam and religious seminaries as a threat. “War is not our need; it is a need of the Americans who started a war in Afghanistan which has now engulfed not only Pakistan but the entire region.”

He appealed to people to unite against the forces which wanted to destroy Islam, the country and its culture and economy.

He said people should pray for the success of the government-Taliban talks because Islam is a religion of peace and harmony. People should not brandish guns because there is no room for war in Islam.

The JUI-F chief said democracy and respect for majority decisions were basic principles of Islamic society and should not be ignored. “We will face challenges and hardships if we don’t follow these principles.”

The meeting adopted a resolution urging the government to include members of a jirga organised by the JUI-F some time back in the government-TTP peace process.

Another resolution asked the government to withdraw the Protection of Pakistan Bill from parliament and stop interfering in the affairs of religious seminaries.