ISLAMABAD- The talks between government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which concluded with some hope of breakthrough as both parties agreed to meet again today, dashed down after the showdown between police and protesters when they attempted to move forward toward the PM House Saturday night.
Now the government would force the protesters out of the Red Zone and restore its writ, Defence Minister Kh Asif told a private television channel. The clashes doomed the talks process as both PAT and PTI leadership announced end to negotiations and has given call for countrywide strike today (Sunday).
Earlier in the day seventh round of talks between government and PTI leadership was held at the residence of PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen. In more than two hours long meeting both sides remained indecisive on the issue of the resignation of Prime Minister but they agreed to meet again today(Sunday) to break impasse on this key issue.
PTI team comprised Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Jehangir Tareen, Arif Alvi, Asad Umar, Shafqat Mahmood and Pervez Khattak. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar led the government team which included Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Ahsan Iqbal and Abdul Qadir Baloch.
PTI leadership had provided a written demand list to the government, which according to some sources was vetted by the legal experts so that in case of some agreement with government the same could be converted into a written agreement.
Ishaq Dar said what to speak of resignation they were not ready to even accept the demand of sending PM on one month leave. He said government has shown extra flexibility toward the demands of PTI and PAT and they were ready to show more flexibility on their constitutional demands but would not accept the demand of sending prime minister on leave or his resignation.
Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch reiterating the government point of view said they would only accept the constitutional demands of the protesters. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that all demands of PTI and PAT have been accepted but their illegal and unconstitutional demand seeking resignation of PM could not be entertained.
PTI chairman Imran Khan was offered a guarantee by Parliament to end the sit-in and the message was delivered to him through Jamaat-i-Islami Amir Sirajul Haq and PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, he said, adding that the Judicial Commission report on the elections rigging would be considered as verdict of the court.