ISLAMABAD - PTI spokesperson Shireen Mazari on Friday said that the PTI-government negotiations, which were scheduled for December 13 (today), have been delayed and will take place after the party’s Lahore protest, reported a private TV channel.
She said that PTI’s Asad Umer would meet the government officials on December 14 (tomorrow). The meeting would conduct brainstorming over how to further the process of bilateral talks between the two sides.
However, a private TV channel claimed that the reason of the delay in the 16th round of negotiations is because PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has other engagements on December 13 (today).
The PTI’s spokesperson said that the negotiations will start on Tuesday (December 16).
Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Earlier in the day, Minister for Development and Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said that parameters for talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been worked out and the dialogue between the government and PTI will take place today.
"Parameters for talks between government and PTI have been settled while PTI has withdrawn its demand for resignation of Prime Minister (PM). There should be no hurdle on the way to success of the talks. We are serious in addressing the political crisis and we hope we will reach any conclusion," Ahsan told media.
He said that container's temperature will have to be lowered for the sake of success of talks. What words were used by Imran Khan while standing on his container were enough to suspend the talks. "We should proceed side by side for the sake of national interest rather than resorting to mudslinging against any one," he stressed.
He also said, "It is demand of PTI that a transparent inquiry should be held on the matter of polls rigging. The government is ready for it. PM has constituted an electoral reforms committee. Electoral reforms are in the national interest and PTI should become part of it irrespective of talks."