Pak parties give mixed reactions to Sharif's decision for peace talks with Taliban

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's announcement to formulate a four-member committee to hold peace talks with the Pakistan Taliban has attracted mixed reactions from the major political parties in Pakistan.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said if the government wanted to end terrorism through peace talks, then the opposition would extend its full cooperation and support.

He added that the opposition would never try politicising the issue of terrorism.

According to Dawn News, however, patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticised the decision of the government.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said there had been a lot of confusion but Sharif's speech had brought in clarity, welcoming the peace talks decision and constitution of the committee.

He said the nation should be kept abreast of the dialogue process through media.