Pakistan: Talks between government and PTI stall again
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Wednesday 18 December 2024
ISLAMABAD (News International / Pakistan News - 18th Dec, 2024 ) : Speaking in Pakistan's National Assembly on Tuesday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif ruled out any talks with the largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), amid "threats of civil disobedience", saying that for the first time there was a pleasant breeze from the opposition, but talks cannot be held at gunpoint.
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PTI founder and jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan had said in a statement posted on social media platform X that he would launch a civil disobedience movement if his demands for a judicial inquiry into the events of May 9, 2023, a crackdown on PTI protesters on November 26 and the release of the party’s “political prisoners” were not met.
"Imran Khan had also announced the names of five people from the party for talks, including key PTI figures Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Asad Qaiser and Ayaz Sadiq.
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According to Pakistani media reports, while the government has ruled out any immediate talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide Rana Sanaullah reiterated the government’s willingness to hold talks.
Rana Sanaullah said that the parliamentary system cannot function unless the opposition leader and the leader of the house are involved in the talks. He said that a committee was formed for the talks but the PTI has not yet formally contacted the government.
PTI response
PTI lawmakers, for their part, have expressed their willingness for talks, although they say they will not “beg” for talks.
PTI lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan, criticizing the current government for “shooting” protesters in Islamabad, said that politicians do not shoot but negotiate.
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He said that during our era, the PPP and JUI-F held long marches but not a single bullet was fired, adding that their hands were not “stained with blood”.
The PTI leader said, “When we did not give rights to East Pakistan, they created Bangladesh.”
He asked what would have happened if they had been allowed to form the government. He stressed that his party would not beg for talks. "If you think you can run the country without Imran Khan, then try it."
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