-Fawad claims Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal sabotaging negotiations
-Qureshi wonders why PML-N’s Javed Latif, Khawaja Asif are hindering negotiations
-Planning Minister reiterates PTI cannot hold talks at gunpoint
-Javed Latif says talks are not held with ‘terrorists’
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Talks between the government and the PTI commenced last week on the advice of the Supreme Court, bringing an end to a long-time deadlock. After two rounds of talks, the parties are now expected to hold the final round of negotiations with chances of a breakthrough today (Tuesday).
However, chances that the dialogue will yield positive results are starting to look “very slim” after Imran demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly by May 14 to pave the way for a successful outcome of talks.
The government has termed Imran’s ultimatum “impracticable” and asked him to be more flexible for the success of this dialogue between the two sides.
Meanwhile, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday PML-N bigwigs Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal were sabotaging negotiations between the PDM-led government and the PTI.
Speaking to media, he said we had been under immense pressure to call off negotiations after the law-enforcement agencies raided PTI president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s house but PTI chief Imran Khan asked us to continue the pro-cess. “The government said it had no link to the raid,” he added.
One faction of the PDM did not want negotiations to be held adding that the anti-negotiations faction would be enjoy-ing Maryam Nawaz’s support, he said. Besides, As the government and the opposition are set to enter the final round of election talks, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday wondered why PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Javed Latif were becoming a hin-drance in the ongoing dialogue.
His remarks come hours after PML-N’s Javed Latif expressed his disapproval towards the government-PTI dialogue, saying that talks should never be held with “terrorists” and those who “want to destroy national institutions”.
However, chances that the dialogue will yield positive results are starting to look “very slim” as PTI Chairman Imran Khan has demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly by May 14 to pave the way for a successful outcome of talks.
The government has termed Imran’s ultimatum “impracticable” and asked him to be more flexible for the success of this dialogue between the two sides.
A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that he does not see a “positive outcome” of the talks. “What will be the result of the negotiations with the PTI as they are setting conditions,” he said.
PML-N Secretary General and Federal Minister for Development Ahsan Iqbal also said: “We want to tell Imran Khan that he cannot hold talks at gunpoint. The first condition of talks is, there are no pre-conditions. Mr Khan is so desper-ate that he wants his way or the highway.”
Talking to the media during a PTI rally in Lahore yesterday, Qureshi asserted that he was prepared to attend the third round of talks tomorrow (May 2).
“But today, I want to ask Dar sahab, on one side you are representing the senior leadership of the PML-N you have the confidence of Nawaz Sharif and you are sitting on the table [for talks] tell me, are Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Javed Latif not a part of your party?
“And if they are a part [of your party], then why are they becoming a hindrance in the negotiations?” he asked, won-dering the same about Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Fazlur Rehman — who has refused to show flexibility on the talks.
Addressing former president Asif Ali Zardari, the PTI leader said that the PPP always claimed to have upheld the Con-stitution and asked “why is it then that you are standing with those violating the Constitution today?”
He went on to say that the nation was aware of the political situation today and stated that the PTI was ready for “ne-gotiations, elections and a movement”.
Qureshi revealed that his party had put forward a proposal, after discussions with Imran, in the second round of talks. “I want Dar sahab and his team, who sought time to review the proposal, to give a clear response to it.”
He added that the government was welcome to accept PTI’s proposal but at the same time warned that if they did not do so, “I will put all of our efforts of negotiations before the Supreme Court and the decision will be in its hands”.
Earlier in the day, Latif questioned the rationale of talks with those calling the government “Mir Jafer and Mir Sadiq”.
“I think there are no negotiations [possible] and talks can never be held with terrorists. We should never hold negotia-tions with the beneficiaries of the global powers,” the PML-N leader alleged.
Latif went on to say that dialogue could never be held with a person who “is spreading anarchy in the country, espe-cially at a time when Pakistan’s economy is stabilising and the country is progressing without IMF’s aid”.
He argued that such talks would equate to putting Pakistan’s security at risk. “By doing so, you will also compromise on Pakistan’s growth,” Latif added.
The lawmaker urged “individuals in institutions” to take responsibility for “producing” a person like Imran and for the consequences of their actions. “If this trend continues, Pakistan’s future looks bleak and uncertain,” he added.
The PML-N leader further stated that his party would not allow the forthcoming elections to take place without the participation of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. He noted that Imran could be taken to the field, but only after justice had been served.
