PESHAWAR, Aug 19: Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Friday that the growing trend of terrorism was an international phenomenon and the problem could not be resolved unless the regional powers abandoned the element of mistrust and lack of confidence among themselves.

Talking to local journalists after a suicide attack on a mosque at Jamrud, Khyber Agency, the minister urged the regional powers to put pressure on the US to bring radical changes in its policy on war against terrorism.He reiterated that the regional stakeholders including Pakistan and Afghanistan and the US should take confidence building measures to eliminate the menace which had ruined the regional peace.

The terrorist were neither Muslim nor human beings as targeting innocent worshipers in the holy places was an act beyond barbarism and could not be justified and tolerated in any religion of the world.

He said all the religions of the world preached tolerance, amity and unity among the fellow beings. “No religion in the world allowed violence and bloodshed of the people on the basis of ethnicity, cast and creed.”

He also urged the world power to give up the notion of ‘good and bad Taliban’ otherwise such tragic incidents would continue to occur. “We can only minimise the intensity of terrorism, but it is very difficult to finish it off permanently,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a statement issue here on Friday, Mian Iftikhar termed the demand of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for fresh elections uncalled for and unjustified.

He said that the present democratic setup had been elected for a constitutional period of five years, therefore, it should be allowed to complete its tenure.

He said that the stance of the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was very clear and added that they were not in favour of polls before the scheduled time.

He said that PPP and PML-N were two popular political parties and it was obligatory on both the parties to work according to Constitution and law.

Quoting the statement of the Nawaz Sharif, he said that the PML-N chief had himself warned that no institution should indulge in sending the government packing unconstitutionally, which he said showed that he was against any undemocratic step.

He said that the demand of fresh polls was not suitable in any circumstances and added that Nawaz Sharif himself had twice been the prime minister and was fully aware of the politics. Therefore, in case of any such demand from any other force, he himself should stop it to prevent democracy from derailment.

“At this critical juncture, we should not take a decision that could harm democracy,” he said.

The provincial minister said that the people had voted the government for a period of five years and it should be allowed to complete its tenure. After that, people had the right to elect or reject it in the next general elections on the basis of itsperformance. — APP