ISLAMABAD: The first round of negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was held on Friday at the National Assembly speaker’s chamber, ahead of the Imran Khan-founded party’s long march towards Islamabad, scheduled for October 4.
The six-member opposition delegation includes PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar and Haleem Adil Sheikh.
The government delegation includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Sherry Rehman and others.
During the meeting, the interior minister presented a briefing on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI reconstituted its delegation for the meeting after Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai refused to attend the meeting at the NA speaker’s chamber, saying he would attend the talks if they were held at a neutral location.
Sources said that PTI leadership rejected TTAF chief’s demand and formed a new delegation for talks.
Barrister Gohar said earlier that the PTI’s political and core committees had approved the names of the opposition delegation.
The opposition delegation would comprise six members for negotiations with the government, he added.
The development emerges a day after the PTI chief said his party had accepted the government’s offer for talks ahead of its proposed long march on October 4.
In a statement, Gohar said the government’s message regarding the meeting had been received on Wednesday and was accepted in light of decisions taken during an opposition leaders’ meeting earlier in the day.
The PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march towards the federal capital from September 27 to October 4. The former ruling party has said the protest is aimed at seeking the release of its jailed founding chairman Imran Khan and what it describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
‘Long marches not a solution’
Speaking to the media earlier today, Sanaullah urged the opposition party to withdraw its long march call amid talks between the PTI and the government.
Speaking to the media at Parliament House in Islamabad, Sanaullah said that long marches and disorder were not a solution to any problem. “Matters that are before the courts have to be decided by the courts.”
He said issues that could be settled through talks could be discussed at the negotiating table, questioning the opposition’s position on the venue for talks.
“You can sit by the roadside under a tree and talk, but you cannot meet at the Prime Minister’s Office,” he said.
Sanaullah said that such statements damaged political tolerance and communication between political parties.
On matters pending before the courts, the senior PML-N leader said that the courts themselves enforce their orders.
Sanaullah said that the PTI founder — incarcerated at Adiala jail —had been shifted to a hospital, where he was examined by a panel of senior doctors.
He said the purpose was to conduct the former prime minister’s medical check-up and that he had been shifted to another hospital, even if it was not a private facility.
He added that if the court issued further clear directions, the government would be bound to comply with them.
‘Long march to proceed’
Meanwhile, the PTI chief vowed that the party’s long march towards Islamabad would proceed as planned.
“Our long march will definitely take place,” Barrister Gohar told the media, adding that the talks had started at the government’s request.
Speaking to Geo News before the talks, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the opposition would discuss justice, adding that they wanted a meeting with the jailed PTI founder and consultation with him.
According to Raja, progress on the negotiations would depend on whether such a meeting took place. “We want the release of the PTI founder and justice.”
Asad Qaiser said that the opposition wanted to meet Khan at Adiala jail to finalise the agenda through consultation with him.
Qaiser said that the issue concerning the PTI founder’s sisters would also be discussed. “First of all, we believe we should be allowed to meet our leader.”
