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ISLAMABAD: With political tensions mounting across the country, the PMLN-led federal government and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) agreed to hold talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Friday (today).
The decision to constitute a joint delegation of the two coalition allies was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Aiwan-e-Sadr where the two leaders reviewed the country’s overall political and security situation.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Media Wing, the meeting expressed concern over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and stressed the need to reinforce the national resolve against terrorism. The president and the prime minister also underscored the importance of effective coordination among all relevant institutions to ensure peace, stability and security in the country.
The joint delegation will include Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Aamir Muqam from the government’s side, while the PPP will be represented by Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Ejaz Jakhrani. The meeting at the Aiwan-e-Sadr was attended by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Rana Sanaullah, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan and Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Tauqir Shah. Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and provincial minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah also attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to fulfil its responsibilities towards tackling terrorism and call off its long march unconditionally.
Bilawal rang up KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and discussed the province’s political and security situation. Faisal briefed Bilawal on terrorist incidents in various parts of the province, including Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Tank and Kohat. He gave a detailed briefing on drones launched from Afghanistan that were intercepted and shot down before reaching their intended targets. The PPP chairman urged the provincial government to focus on its responsibilities amid the security challenges and play its role in addressing the situation.
In a related development, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed that the government and the opposition were set to meet on Friday (today). The widely anticipated talks are scheduled to be held at the office of the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
A message in Urdu posted on Gohar’s X handle reads, “PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan received a message from the government regarding a meeting tomorrow, which he accepted in light of the decision made during today’s opposition meeting.
“God willing, a meeting between the opposition and government delegations will take place tomorrow at 12:00pm in the office of the National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,” he said in the message.
Talking to the media outside the Parliament House, Gohar warned that imposing governor’s rule would land the federation in difficulties. He maintained that the Pakistan Peoples Party had sought consultations with the province on the deployment of Rangers. Pledging to remain peaceful, Gohar emphasised that the country’s interests were paramount. However, he made it clear that the long march would continue until their demands were met. He said the PTI leadership had presented its demands to the opposition leaders. “We have conveyed our demands to the opposition leaders and negotiations with them will follow,” he contended.
Earlier, the opposition parties’ leadership under the tag of Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) met at the Parliament House and discussed the proposed long march. It was also decided to hold dialogue with the government.
In another development, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram rejected as baseless and fabricated reports circulating in the media pertaining to a meeting of the party’s political committee on the October 4 long march.
In a statement, he clarified that no meeting of the party’s political committee was held during the past two days. He categorically stated that neither the imposition of governor’s rule nor the declaration of emergency was discussed or decided upon in any meeting of the political committee. “The reports being circulated in the media in the name of the political committee are contrary to the facts and have no basis whatsoever,” Sheikh Waqas said.
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the federal government and PTI were engaged in “off-the-record talks” over the October 4 long march.
“Off-the-record talks are ongoing with senior PTI leaders,” he said while speaking in Geo News’ morning show “Geo Pakistan”. Sana said arrangements had been made to prevent the long march participants from entering Islamabad “if the PTI leadership does not call off the proposed protest”. He also described a provincial government-led march on Islamabad as a violation of constitutional and legal provisions. Sana charged that the people operating on social media platforms were dictating the party’s course.
He also said the Constitution provided a procedure for imposing governor’s rule and that the option remained under consideration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the final decision would require the constitutional process and parliamentary approval. Sana added that decisions concerning the provinces rested with parliament, while the prime minister would state the government’s position when the matter came before parliament. “When the matter comes before parliament, the prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif] will give his position,” he said, adding that Nawaz Sharif would also give his view when the issue reached the appropriate forum.
PMLN President Nawaz Sharif, he said, continued to guide the party and that his opinion and approval were sought on major matters.
