ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has accepted the government’s offer for talks ahead of its proposed long march on October 4, party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Thursday.
In a statement, Gohar said the government’s message regarding the meeting had been received on Friday and was accepted in light of decisions taken during an opposition leaders’ meeting earlier in the day.
He said representatives of the government and opposition would meet at 12pm tomorrow in the office of the National Assembly speaker.
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 and what it describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
The development comes after Gohar had earlier said PTI’s doors remained open for negotiations with the government. He said he had heard that the government wanted to send a delegation for talks and that PTI would welcome any such approach.
Gohar said the focus should remain on preventing terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that PTI had consistently maintained that terrorism should not be politicised.
He warned that imposing governor’s rule in the province would worsen the situation, increase tensions and create further divisions. “I tell everyone, for God’s sake, come to their senses and avoid such measures,” he said.
Gohar had also maintained that the announcement regarding the long march was final. The opposition has been consulting over preparations for the planned march and its political strategy.
Meanwhile, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the opposition wanted negotiations, but they would have to be held without conditions.
“Negotiations cannot take place with the sword of a condition hanging over them,” he said.
Allama Nasir said the long march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be peaceful. He added that the opposition wanted to hold talks even with its opponents, but said the purpose would be to work for Pakistan.
Gohar, in a separate statement, said that imposing governor’s rule would create difficulties for the federal government.
He said the Pakistan Peoples Party had called for consultation with the province only regarding the deployment of Rangers. “Pakistan comes first and we will all remain peaceful,” Gohar said.
He reiterated that the long march would continue until the party’s demands were accepted.
Gohar also said Nasir Abbas had made it clear that the negotiations would now be conducted for Pakistan.
Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said he would not meet the prime minister or National Assembly speaker in their official offices.
Referring to his objections to the manner in which he said the government was formed and votes were allegedly taken away, Achakzai said he could meet a PML-N leader at their residence but would not visit their offices.
“I can meet the prime minister anywhere in Pakistan, even under a tree,” he said.
Achakzai said he was prepared to sit anywhere in Pakistan, including under a tree, for a meeting and was also willing to visit the residence of any party leader.
He described the prime minister as unconstitutional and alleged that the mandate of millions of Pakistanis had been taken away. “I am keeping silent because strong words are coming to my mind,” Achakzai said.
