Pak Taliban nominates leaders to hold peace talks with government

The Pakistan Taliban has reportedly nominated five political and religious leaders to hold peace talks with government authorities.

The militant outfit came out with the names after Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's stated last week that despite the recent spate of attacks, the government was willing to pursue peace talks with the Taliban.

Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Maulana Samiul Haq, former chief cleric of the Lal Masjid in Islamabad, Maulana Abdul Aziz, Professor Mohammad Ibrahim of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), and Mufti Kifayatullah are among those named to resume peace talks, Dawn.com reported.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that the shura will communicate its stance to the five nominees who will mediate talks with the government team.

The militant outfit announced the names of after a meeting of its central shura (council), which was held at an undisclosed location.