LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan Thursday reiterated his stance of negotiating with banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) following the killing of SP CID Chaudhry Aslam in Karachi, which was claimed by the terrorist group, DawnNews reported.
Condemning the assassination of the top Karachi cop, while speaking to reporters in Lahore, he said that prevailing violence and killings in the country would not end without pulling out from ‘someone else’s war’.
The Mohmand agency chapter of the TTP claimed responsibility for the attack in Karachi’s Essa Nagri which killed three police officials including Aslam and wounded at least ten others.
At the same time, the cricketer-turned-politician paid tribute to the bravery, commitment and courage of slain police officers and said that it was a great loss for both the police department and the nation.
Demanding immediate inquiry of the incident, he asked Sindh government to bring the ‘culprits’ to the book.
Urging federal and provincial governments to assume an effective yet combined political strategy to deal with the menace of terror, Khan said it was hard to curb these kinds of incidents without restoring law and order across the country especially in Karachi.
“We express solidarity with the bereaved families and stand by the people of Karachi whom Chaudhry Aslam and his associates were endeavoring to protect from permanent threat of terrorism, lawlessness and target killing,” said a statement issued by PTI quoting Imran Khan.
He said that people were fed up with terrorism and suggested dialogue was a better option than fighting with the militants.
“Dialogue is a better option than fighting against Taliban.”
“At least those (Taliban) groups which are ready to negotiate peace should be contacted for talks.”
Speaking about local government polls in his party ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the PTI chief said that current delimitations in KP were effective enough to hold the election. He vowed to hold exemplary LG polls in the province.