Shah questions rationale behind talks with Taliban

Opposition leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) senior member Syed Khursheed Shah has questioned the rationale behind talks with Taliban. Speaking to the media on arrival here on Friday evening at the airport, Shah said that the deteriorating law and order situation across the country was playing havoc with the national economy. “The government should focus all its attention to this core issue because until and unless we do not overcome this menace, we cannot strengthen our economy”, he said. The opposition leader asked whether the government still wanted talks with the militants after the on-going incidents of terrorism. Shah said that after the terrorist incidents, dialogue would not be of any benefit. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will have to take a decision now as a leader, whether to talk with the Taliban or not. He said protection of life and property of the people is the foremost responsibility of the government. "The government is running after the Taliban for peace talks but the recent attacks clearly indicated their state of mind," he added. Replying to a question, he said that the opposition has given full mandate to the government to cope with deteriorating law and order situation in the country and is ready to provide all possible assistance in this regard in future. "The extremists have not only hurt the country's economically but have also destroyed the image of Islam in the eyes of the world and this was part of a big conspiracy," he said.