AI demands UN investigation in Israel-Gaza conflict war crimes

LONDON: Amnesty International (AI) has urged the UN to urgently mandate an independent international investigation into Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as well as Palestine’s indiscriminate shelling of Israel, and hold accountable those responsible for war crimes.

The UN questions the legality of Israel’s Gaza offensive, while Netanyahu is dismissive of international pressure.

Despite claims by Israel that its operation “Protective Edge”, launched June 8, targets Hamas militants, most of more than a hundred Palestinians killed in airstrikes on Gaza are civilians, Amnesty says, adding that at least 24 children and 16 women were among the casualties.

Simultaneously, at least 20 people in Israel have been wounded by rocket attacks from Palestinian territories, according to the human rights watchdog, calling on the UN to set up a “fact-finding mission to Gaza and Israel to investigate violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.”

“Swift UN action is needed as lives hang in the balance,” said Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Amnesty International. “The international community must not repeat previous mistakes, standing by and watching the devastating consequences for civilians of both sides.”

Amnesty sees arms embargo on Israel and all Palestinian military groups as a means of preventing the violence escalating further.

“Pending such an embargo, all states must immediately suspend all transfers of military equipment, assistance and munitions to the parties, which have failed to properly investigate violations committed in previous conflicts, or bring those responsible to justice,” Amnesty's official statement reads.

Strikes on homes, performed as part of Israel’s military operation, are a matter of particular concern to human rights groups. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, on Friday questioned the legality of such attacks.

Israel has argued that all targets in the Gaza strip are either military facilities or are homes of Hamas militants.

In case of doubt, buildings ordinarily used for civilian purposes, such as homes, are presumed not to be legitimate military targets,” Libi Vice, spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces (IFD) told RT on Thursday.

Human rights watchdogs want proof that 340 housing units, destroyed in Gaza, were actually used for military purposes.

“Unless the Israeli authorities can provide specific information to show how a home is being used to make an effective contribution to military actions, deliberately attacking civilian homes constitutes a war crime and also amounts to collective punishment against the families,” said Amnesty's Luther.

“Firing indiscriminate rockets, which cannot be aimed accurately at military targets, is a war crime, as is deliberately targeting civilians,” he added. “There can be no excuse for either side failing to protect civilians, including journalists, medics and humanitarian workers, or civilian facilities.”

Amnesty International has also called on Israel and Egypt to “ensure that sufficient amounts of medical and humanitarian supplies are allowed into Gaza”. Healthcare services in the region have been on the brink of collapse due to shortages of supplies, the World Health Organization earlier warned.

Friday saw thousands of activists in London and Oslo protesting against Israeli strikes in Gaza. Organizers of the massive rallies said Palestinians are facing “a horrific escalation of racism and violence” at the hands of the IDF.

MQI’s APC demands Shahbaz’s resignation

 

LAHORE: An All Parties Conference (APC) convened by the Chairman of Minhajul Quran International (MQI), Allama Dr Tahirul Qadri, on Sunday demanded immediate resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over the Model Town carnage.
“Shahbaz Sharif is directly responsible for the bloodshed and terrorism, he should resign immediately from his office,” said a joint declaration, announced after the APC, which was attended by the leadership of different political and religio-political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), Awami Muslim League (AML), All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and others, who held the view that resignation of Rana Sanaullah Khan was not enough as he had only been made a scapegoat. They also demanded that if the chief minister did not resign, the president of Pakistan should exercise his powers and dismiss him.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was the only opposition party which did not attend the APC.Major participants in the APC included PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain, former deputy prime minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Adil Sheikh, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry, former federal ministers including Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, JI leaders Hafiz Salman Butt, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, MQM leaders Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Rasheed Godel, APML leader Ahmed Raza Kasuri, MNA Jamshed Dasti, head of Tehreek Sooba Hazara Baba Hyder Zaman, etc.

In the five-point charter of demands, the APC also called for a fair probe into the Model Town incident, formation of a commission comprising three judges of the Supreme Court. It was also demanded that the commission comprising judges with clean reputation should head the proposed commission and must have the authority to summon anyone, including the sitting prime minister, federal ministers and Punjab chief minister. It was also demanded that for a fair probe, an inquiry committee comprising officials of good reputation be constituted.

Dr Tahirul Qadri said on the occasion the barriers outside the MQI Secretariat were not installed by them but on the court orders following the issuance of a fatwa by him against terrorism. He said as long as the Punjab CM did not resign, no fair probe was expected and he must resign with immediate effect. He also said duality in the stance of the Punjab government could well be assessed from the fact that Rana Sanaullah Khan, who initially claimed that there were arms and ammunition in the MQI Secretariat, later himself withdrew this allegation.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Senior Vice Chairman of PTI, in his address said how could one expect justice when the demand by aggrieved persons to register an FIR of this incident was not fulfilled. He also said the Model Town incident had posed a serious question mark on the role of different institutions which were facing a decline adding the incident of June 17 had written a dark chapter of history, which was highly condemnable.

Ch Shujaat Hussain said, on the one hand, our armed forces were busy in the operation against terrorists and, on the other hand, state terrorists had started “Zarb-e-Ghazb” on June 17 in Model Town, Lahore. If this was not stopped, then nobody would be spared of the rulers’ wrath. He said the worst kind of terrorism was witnessed against innocent people on June 16 and 17 when the police raided the secretariat to remove the barriers and 14 people were brutally murdered.

Shujaat also said it was food for thought for all the political parties that the manner in which the height of intolerance in politics was achieved and a new culture of political terrorism through state institutions was introduced. He also said if this was not stopped forthwith, then any ruler would silence forever the voice raised against him.

He said ill-intention of the Punjab government would be judged from the fact that the barriers, for whose removal violence and bloodshed was committed, were placed again after a few days but who would bring those innocent persons who were murdered in the name of removal of barriers.

He claimed it was his faith that bodies of the martyrs would continue haunting the N-League. He said on this great tragedy, the stance of the PML-Q was that irrespective of whether it was one or 100-member commission, the inheritor of Jallianwala Bagh’s General Dyer “Qaatel-e-A’ala” Shahbaz Sharif should resign and join the investigation so that demands of law and justice could be met, all civil and police employees responsible for this tragedy should be suspended so that they could not exercise their influence anywhere and all accused should be brought in the ambit of law. “If they were let off today, then in our political culture nobody would be safe.”

He said if we did not adopt a strong stand today and did not take a decision unanimously against the accused of state terrorism, then nobody would be able to stop state terrorism in future nor anyone would be safe.

Pervaiz Elahi said participation of leaders from Balochistan, KP and Sindh in the APC was reflective of great concern which prevailed throughout the country over the brutal Model Town tragedy. He said even after the killing of so many innocent persons, Minhajul Quran’s FIR was not being registered so far and as such what to talk about a joint investigation at this stage. He said without the resignation of Shahbaz Sharif, proper investigation was not possible. “With him present as the chief minister, who will give evidence against him?”

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, chairman of the AML, in his address said the CM Punjab remained very active in suspending a Wasa official but, on the other hand, 15 people had been killed but Shahbaz Sharif expressed ignorance. He said the PML-N vision revolves around Ziauddin Butt and Gullu Butt type of people adding those who were saying that the action was not planned were wrong.

Ahmed Raza Kasuri, the central leader of APML, said on the occasion four years after the registration of an FIR on his request, a prime minister was hanged adding he was seeing a similar fate for the elements behind this tragedy.

Imran makes four new demands

 

BAHAWALPUR: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on Friday presented four demands before the government and gave one month’s time for acceptance of the same.
He threatened that if the demands were not met, one million people would march on Islamabad on August 14 for a ‘Naya Pakistan’ and strengthening of democracy through reforms.

Addressing a big public gathering at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur, he asked the government who was behind Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech on May 11 after announcement of the only 15 percent results, what was the role of then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in the elections, who was declared winners through rigging in 35 constituencies and who had made changes in the electoral roll and why there were so massive number of rejected votes in the elections.

He said that the time was not far when he would mend the Punjab police. He said if any policeman fired at or tortured activists of the PTI, he would hang them with his own hands.He invited all the political parties to join hands with him for real democracy and ‘Naya Pakistan’ through electoral reforms.

The PTI chief said it was shameful that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not resign despite ‘massive rigging’ in May 11 polls. He claimed that results were changed in at least 90 constituencies under a massive rigging plan.He also attacked the Punjab Police over the Lahore incident and asked whether they were the servants of Sharif family or the Punjab government.

Discussing the IDPs issue, Imran Khan asked Nawaz Sharif not to play politics on the issue. He said the prime minister had invited him just for a photo session with IDPs in Bannu which he rejected because it was not time for politics, adding that situation required practical service for the IDPs.

He said the IDPs issue would become a huge problem for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, if all the Pakistanis did not support them.Imran demanded the Punjab and Sindh governments for removing the ban on the entry of IDPs in their respective provinces.

Earlier, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in his address asked Imran Khan to support the demand of Bahawalpur and Seraiki provinces.It is important to note that although it was a big gathering but not as much as being claimed by the PTI leadership, especially by the south Punjab organisation.

Agencies add: Imran said if the prime minister was actually concerned about the IDPs, he would have informed him about the operation beforehand.Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the days of PML-N government were numbered adding that he had to convey three important messages and the first one was for the PML-N government.

“The one, who was in power, is gone and the one, who is in now, will be removed very soon.”Hashmi described southern Punjab as the most neglected region and said Imran should recognise the sense of deprivation among the locals. Pakistan would progress with the creation of new provinces, he remarked.

PTI to quit assemblies after Eid if demands not met

 

ISLAMABAD: The core committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) here on Wednesday formally decided to quit the National Assembly (NA) and the provincial assemblies after Eidul Fitr, if scientific voter verification was not held for the four NA constituencies in a month.
Under Chairman Imran Khan, the forum met here and discussed the future political course in the backdrop of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s proposed drive against the government. The core committee was sharply divided on siding with the “guest” from Canada and coming out of the National and KP assemblies, it was learnt.

Quite surprisingly, the release issued by the PTI Media Cell missed out to mention any political aspect of the meeting. However, sources told The News that difference of opinion was clearly witnessed during the deliberations.

It has been learnt that Dr Qadri was unhappy with the PTI leadership for its cold-shouldered response to his homecoming. And this was reflected in his statement before the media on Monday night that he was grateful to some leaders of the PTI for their support to him. He skipped the name of anyone, even Imran Khan.

“The PTI is reluctant to publicly announce support to Dr Qadri, as it may entail a massive fallout in case he decided to go back to Canada, as he had done earlier,” a senior PTI leader maintained. Another reason was the public perception that Dr Qadri enjoyed the backing of some invisible forces in his anti-government campaign.

He pointed out it was for these reasons that the core committee and even Imran had declared in categorical terms that his party was not joining any grand alliance – a reference to Dr Qadri and the Chaudhrys of Gujrat.

“The democratic credentials of PTI can suffer immensely in case it went public in support of Pakistan Awami Tehreek of Dr Qadri,” he noted. Sources revealed that Imran met Dr Qadri and PML leaders in London recently. They claimed during the meeting Imran indicated his willingness to support Dr Qadri. However, strong resistance within the PTI about openly supporting him forced Imran to hold back his supporters from joining the PAT workers on the streets welcoming their leader’s return from Canada.

A founding member and a former central vice president of PTI, Akbar S Babar, told this correspondent that the test of the PTI’s present ambivalent policy towards PAT will come when Dr Qadri announces his final showdown at the D-Chowk in Islamabad. He felt that the PTI has found itself in political no-man’s land. Instead of focusing on delivering in the KP and making an impact in the NA, the PTI, he alleged, had wasted precious time to consolidate the electoral gains made in 2013 elections.

Babar, who remained the lead PTI opinion maker according to Imran until developing differences on alleged internal corruption and lack of accountability in late 2011, said that if Imran thought that by joining hands with Dr Qadri and remnants of the PML-Q he would be the next natural choice to run the country, he might have another rude awakening.

Babar predicted that Imran’s next biggest political rival would be Dr Qadri whose claim to the lion’s share in the next political set-up based on sacrifices to remove the present government would be challenged by the PTI.

Meanwhile, PTI’s information secretary has pointed out that Imran has demanded the prime minister to announce Rs6 billion aid for the IDPs as soon as possible. This is essential if a human catastrophe is to be avoided, says a PTI release.

The PTI core committee expressed grave concern over the human misery of the IDPs from the NWA. She said Imran had informed the core committee that he had asked the PTI Razakars to mobilise and help the Imran Khan Foundation in their massive relief effort already underway.

Afaq demands removal of billboards describing Altaf as ‘Father of the Nation

KARACHI: Chief of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-H) Afaq Ahmed has demanded that banners and hoardings with the pictures of Altaf Hussain describing him as the “Father of the Nation” be removed immediately from the city otherwise his party would take legal course of action in this regard.

He said that Altaf Hussain and his party be taken to task for “dishonouring the founder of the country” by terming the MQM chief as the “Father of the Nation”.

“Hoardings, billboards and posters inscribed with ‘Father of the Nation’ are being posted across the city ahead of an MQM rally on Sunday to express solidarity with Altaf Hussain,” Afaq Ahmed said.

He said that if the banners and hoardings with the pictures of Altaf Hussain describing him as the “Father of the Nation” were not removed immediately, the MQM-H would take legal course of action in this regard.

He said that protests were being held against Geo for blaming a secret agency but why no action taken against a party that had caused disrespect to the founder of the country.

Shuhada Foundation demands stern action against ARY

ISLAMABAD: Shuhada Foundation (Lal Masjid) of Pakistan has written a letter to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman calling for a stern action against ARY TV for airing programmes blaspheming Ahle Bait and defaming the judiciary besides seeking issuance of instructions to cable operators to unblock Geo TV transmission in the country immediately.

It also sought cancellation of licence of cable operators for blocking Geo TV transmission. The Foundation’s spokesman Hafiz Ehtesham Ahmed said in a press release that the Foundation has put up a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) making secretary information, chairman Pemra, chairman CII, chairman PTA, chairman Cable Operators Association, chief executive ARY TV, ARY anchor Mubashir Lucman, ARY morning show host Nida Yasir, Dr Shaista Lodhi, Qawal Amjad Farid Sabri and poet of ‘blasphemous’ Qawali Aqeel Mohsin Naqvi as respondents. He said the IHC judge Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi has issued notices to all respondents.

He said Geo TV morning show host Dr Shaista Lodhi publicly apologised on May 15 for the inadvertent mistake she did in her show on May 14. He said Geo administration sacked the team of the programe and started inquiry. He said known clerics hold that Dr Shaista Lodhi could not be declared a culprit in the light of Quran and Hadith after she has apologised publicly.

He said Pemra received thousands of applications complaining about the programme and three of its controversial members — Israr Abbasi, Mian Shams and Fareeha Iftikhar — recommended cancellation of Geo TV licence after holding an illegal session of Council of Complaints in Karachi on May 20, 2014.

The spokesman said Pemra notices blasphemous transmission of Geo TV but ignores the fact that ARY TV was airing blasphemous content. He demanded that Pemra should take action against ARY TV similar to what they have done with Geo TV. He said ARY anchor Mubashir Lucman intentionally aired Geo TV’s morning show which blasphemed Ahle Bait unintentionally. He said Lucman has not apologised for this mistake and ARY has also ignored it. He said Lucman has not only committed blasphemy intentionally but also tried to fan religious hatred, putting lives of Geo TV workers in danger. He said due to this despicable act of Lucman, many Geo TV employees have been attacked. He said this act of Lucman falls in the category of terrorism so Pemra should order registration of a case against him under ATA.

The spokesman added that ARY host Nida Yasir has carried out a programme containing similar content as Dr Shaista Lodhi but Nida has not apologised so far. He said in the light of these facts, ARY TV is a bigger culprit than Geo TV. He demanded a stern action against ARY host Nida Yasir.

He demanded a blasphemy case against ARY TV Chief Executive Salman Iqbal for allowing airing of blasphemous content on his TV.He said lyrics of the Qawali are blasphemous so it should be banned on TV. He said Mubashir Lucman in his programme “Kharra Sach” disrespected judiciary, not least Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on May 21, 22. ARY TV Islamabad Bureau Chief Sabir Shakir was also involved in these programmes, he said. He said Pemra should direct cable operators to unblock Geo TV transmission otherwise he would go into litigation against Pemra.

PPP demands resignation from Abidi over party policy violation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has demanded Faisal Raza Abidi to tender resignation from his senate membership over violation of party policy, Geo News reported.

According to a communiqué issued here Wednesday, PPP General Secretary Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, on the directives of party leadership, demanded resignation from Abidi.

Abidi had violated party policy, therefore, the PPP leadership has demanded him to resign as senator.

PPP demands resignation from Abidi over party policy violation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has demanded Faisal Raza Abidi to tender resignation from his senate membership over violation of party policy, Geo News reported.

According to a communiqué issued here Wednesday, PPP General Secretary Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, on the directives of party leadership, demanded resignation from Abidi.

Abidi had violated party policy, therefore, the PPP leadership has demanded him to resign as senator.

Altaf demands to stop illegal activities of ‘death squad’

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has expressed concerned over “illegal arrests” of the party workers by alleged police personnel in civilian cloths.

In a statement issued here Monday, Altaf Hussain demanded of the Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat, IG Sindh Iqbal Mehmood and DG Rangers Major General Rizwan Akhtar to take immediate notice and get the arrested MQM workers released.

He also called for stern action against the policemen involved in this “illegal activity” and to stop the active “death squad” allegedly involved in the killings of the MQM workers.

Strategy on TTP demands prepared

 

ISLAMABAD: The strategy pertaining to the demands made by the defunct Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been prepared as the civil and military leadership on Friday decided to go ahead with the peace process with the TTP, the sources said.
According to the sources, the decision was taken during the different meetings chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s Office. The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafiq Butt had one-to-one meetings with the prime minister.

Nawaz Sharif also chaired a high-level meeting on the security issues before leaving for Lahore which was also attendedInterior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatmi.

The meetings were held in the backdrop of serious developments taking place on and across the borders of the country. The two services chiefs had discussion about the security and professional matters.

Officially no word has been given by the Prime Minister Office about discussions and decisions taken place in the meeting but the sources told ‘The News’ that go ahead signal had been given to the schedule for the dialogue process with TTP first through the designated committees and later with the committee of the TTP Shura.

The maiden direct talks with the TTP Shura delegation took place last month in the absence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the country and the second round would likely to be held in his absence as the prime minister would leave for China next week to attend the economic forum in Boao.

The focus of the meeting was peace talks but other matters related to internal and external security also cropped up in the course of discussion. The meeting was informed that the movement points on the international border with Afghanistan had been sealed in view of the Presidential polls in Afghanistan today (Saturday).

The announcement made by the TTP for extending the ceasefire for a period of another ten days also discussed in the meeting which was briefed about the TTP activities during the recent days as the militants were engaged in regrouping but their activities were being monitored by the agencies concerned.

The meeting also discussed the issue of release of detainees belonging to Tribal areas last week and it was made clear that no combatant prisoner would be released without complete understanding of all the stakeholders and it would be ensured that the released prisoners would not engage in terror activities.

The meeting was briefed about arrangements put in place for strict vigilance on the borders with Afghanistan to avert any untoward situation, the sources said.Meanwhile, sources didn’t give any hint about discussion in the meeting with regard to the matter related to former president General (R) Pervez Musharraf.

Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatimi told this scribe that the high profile visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China next week also came under discussion as the prime minister would have important meetings with Chinese leadership and the leaders of other countries attending the forum.

Scrap the ‘anti-women’ CII, demands Sindh

Karachi: The lawmakers of Sindh have unanimously demanded doing away with the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a constitutional advisory body formed during military ruler Gen Ziaul Haq’s era, for its recent “regressive” and “anti-women” recommendations.

During the provincial legislature’s proceedings on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League- Functional MPA Mehtab Akbar Rashdi moved a resolution demanding that the federal government dissolve the CII as the advisory body’s recommendations showed utter disregard for women rights and complicated matters instead of finding solutions to problems.

The CII, which is responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues, recently drew flak from various quarters for declaring laws prohibiting underage marriage and the Women’s Protection Act of 2006 un-Islamic. It had also decreed seeking consent from the first wife for a second marriage un-Islamic and DNA tests unacceptable as primary evidence in rape cases.

Setting their political differences aside, all political parties in the House supported the resolution.The parliamentary leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf delivered speeches to express their parties’ commitment towards women’s rights and resentment for the CII’s recommendations.

China demands Malaysian satellite data on plane

BEIJING: China demanded Tuesday that Malaysia turn over satellite data used to conclude that a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet was lost in the southern Indian Ocean with no survivors during a flight to Beijing.

Among the flight´s 239 passengers, 153 were Chinese nationals, making the incident a highly emotional one for Beijing. Family members of the missing passengers have complained bitterly about a lack of reliable information and some suspect they are not being told the whole truth.

Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng told Malaysia´s ambassador to Beijing that China wanted to know what exactly led Malaysia to announce Monday night that the plane had been lost, China´s Foreign Ministry said on its web site. "We demand the Malaysian side to make clear the specific basis on which they come to this judgment," Xie was quoted as telling Datuk Iskandar Bin Sarudin during their meeting late Monday.

There was no immediate response from the Malaysian side. Monday´s announcement sparked mournful, angry and chaotic scenes at the Beijing hotel where relatives had gathered. Around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning (1800 GMT Monday) a group of family members read out a statement condemning Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government and military and vowing to hold them responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.

The plane vanished less than an hour into an overnight flight March 8 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Relatives planned to stage a further protest outside the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing.

Dasti demands transparent judicial inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Independent Member National Assembly Jamshed Dasti on Wednesday demanded judicial inquiry to investigate his allegations.
Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Jamshed Dasti refused to appear before the National Assembly's seven-member committee saying 'I am not culprit'.
He lauded the government's decision to include all stake-holders in the dialogue process with Taliban.
Jamshed Dasti said that the government should be given free hand for dialogue with Tahreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups.
He said that some foreign elements did not want to success of peace process in the country.

Israel PM demands Palestinians recognize Jewish state

WASHINGTON: Israel Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday directly urged Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and to "abandon the fantasy" of flooding Israel with refugees.
But his remarks sparked a furious reaction from the Palestinians who denounced his demand and said it had effectively put the final nail in the coffin of the US-led peace talks.
Addressing delegates at the annual policy conference of AIPAC, Netanyahu said he was prepared to make an "historic peace," but not without a Palestinian acceptance of the Jewish state.
"It's time the Palestinians stopped denying history," he said, returning to a major point of disagreement in peace talks, which have struggled to make headway ahead of a looming April deadline.
"President Abbas: recognize the Jewish state and in doing so, you would be telling your people to abandon the fantasy of flooding Israel with refugees," he said.
"In recognizing the Jewish state you would make clear that you are truly prepared to end the conflict. No excuses, no delays, it's time."
But top Palestinian official Nabil Shaath told AFP that Netanyahu's demand for such recognition, and his insistence on keeping Israeli troops along the Jordan Valley in a future Palestinian state, were "totally rejected."
Speaking to AFP, he said Netanyahu's speech was tantamount to an "an official announcement of a unilateral end to negotiations."
Israel has repeatedly insisted there will be no peace deal without addressing the issue of recognition, but the Palestinians have rejected the demand, which they say will deny their historical narrative and compromise the right of return for their refugees.
Netanyahu also alluded to Israel's demand to retain a military presence along the Jordan Valley, which runs down the eastern flank of the West Bank, in any future deal saying he would not cede security to foreign peacekeepers.
"If we reach an agreement with the Palestinians, I don't delude myself. That peace will most certainly come under constant attack by Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda and others," he said
In an interview published Sunday, Obama warned that if peace talks were to fail and Israel continued building settlements, it would face an international backlash, referring to growing moves, particularly in Europe, to boycott the Jewish state.