Sanaa: Head of the National Committee for Prisoners' Affairs Abdulqader al-Murtada has confirmed a lack of official response from the opposing party regarding a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal. Despite announcing the proposal three days ago, the committee has only encountered media remarks from Hadi al-Haij, the Islah Party's representative, who criticized the media coverage and set conditions for accepting the offer, including disclosing the fate of Mohammed Qahtan.
According to Yemen News Agency, al-Murtada emphasized that the Islah Party in Marib is responsible for delaying the disclosure of Mohammed Qahtan's fate, as well as withholding information about hundreds of prisoners for ten years. He stated the committee's readiness to disclose Qahtan's fate if the Islah Party reciprocates by revealing the status of prisoners in their custody.
Al-Murtada highlighted a previous agreement concerning Mohammed Qahtan, reached during the last Muscat negotiations and sponsored by the United Nations. He accused the Islah Party of failing to implement this agreement and reiterated the committee's willingness to honor it.
He further explained that the proposed comprehensive exchange would ensure the release of all prisoners, including Mohammed Qahtan, without preconditions, if the opposing party demonstrates genuine intentions to resolve the issue and alleviate the prisoners' suffering.
Al-Murtada criticized the Islah Party's reluctance to engage in dialogue and their obstruction of mediation efforts. He argued that their resistance to public discourse on the matter is an attempt to conceal the truth and manipulate the families of captives.
In conclusion, al-Murtada stated that the committee's public announcement serves as evidence against the opposing party and challenges them to implement the proposed inclusive deal to prove their sincerity in resolving the prisoner issue.