'No talks with Sufi until Pak Army operation against Taliban is over'

Islamabad, May 11 (ANI): The Awami National Party (ANP) on Sunday said it had temporarily stopped communicating with Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Muhammad until the military concludes its operation against the Taliban.

"There is no contact between our party and the TNSM since the military began its operation. We tried to implement the Nizam-e-Adl in Malakand, but Sufi failed to restore peace in the area," said ANP Information Secretary Zahid Khan.

He said he had talked to people close to the TNSM chief last week to condole the death of Sufi's son, but there was no communication between the ANP-led provincial government and Sufi after the federal government announced to launch a military operation in Swat.

"We have not closed our doors for talks with Sufi. We will again negotiate with the people and the TNSM chief," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Khan made it clear that the ANP would not talk to Sufi until the military operation against the Taliban was over.

"Sufi has failed to control those taking up arms and challenging the government's writ and he will now be contacted only after the government establishes its writ."

Replying to a question, Khan said the provincial government would implement the Nizam-e-Adl after it takes control of Swat.

He said the ANP was committed to setting up the Darul Qaza appellate courts in Malakand, but it was unfair to demand that the appointments be made by Sufi Muhammad.

Meanwhile, ANP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Haji Muhammad Adeel said the implementation of the Nizam-e-Adl was a popular demand, but was directly dependant on peace in the area.

Adeel said he believed the Taliban did not follow Sufi's orders. "Sufi had fallen hostage to the Taliban. I believe all this was beyond his capacity," he said. (ANI)