Pakistani religious leaders seek ceasefire

Top Pakistani clerics and religious scholars today asked both the government and the Taliban to immediately declare a ceasefire, saying it was necessary for the success of the ongoing peace process.
"We appeal to the Taliban to speak in the language of peace," said a joint statement issued after a meeting here of Ulema and Scholars Convention.
The meet was chaired by hardline cleric Samiul Haq, a member of the committee nominated by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for talks with state negotiators.
The clerics and scholars sought the Taliban's support for the restoration of peace and said a ceasefire was necessary for talks to be successful.

The statement placed responsibility on both the government and the Taliban to ensure that the peace process, aimed at ending a decade-old insurgency, was not interrupted.
The statement also called on both sides to avoid the use of force if talks failed.

"Peace talks are the only viable solution...War can never bring peace," said Haq, flanked by religious leaders like Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hassan and Allama Tahir Ashrafi.
"Big powers have witnessed the outcome of war in Afghanistan. A military operation will only push the country further towards destruction. The peace process should be made successful at all costs," he added.

The Taliban committee and state negotiators have held preliminary discussions on a roadmap to end violence in the country.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on his way back from an official visit to Turkey, told Geo news that recent terror attacks were detrimental to the peace process.
He described the attacks as "shocking" called for them to be stopped immediately. He said he wanted an end to the killing of innocent Pakistanis.
Sharif said there was complete harmony between his government and the military over the peace talks.