Govt-opposition talks adjourned till tomorrow after day-long negotiations

Talks between the federal government and opposition on the prevailing political situation were adjourned until Saturday after the two sides held two rounds of negotiations in Islamabad on Friday, Aaj News reported.

The two sides agreed to resume discussions at 2pm on Saturday after several hours of talks held in the committee room of the National Assembly speaker’s chamber.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan described the first day of negotiations as positive, saying both sides had presented their respective positions and expressing hope that the dialogue would continue the next day.

The government’s negotiating team was led by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

The opposition team comprised Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Barrister Gohar, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Aamir Dogar and Salman Akram Raja.

Pakistan Peoples Party representatives Senator Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Ejaz Jakhrani also attended the meeting.

During the first round, which began at noon, Minister Naqvi briefed the participants on the security and law-and-order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sources said differences emerged between the government and PTI teams over some issues during the talks, but the exchange did not lead to a deadlock and discussions continued.

According to sources, Raja Abbas and Sanaullah also exchanged views on judicial matters. Abbas expressed criticism and disappointment over what he described as the government’s failure to implement court decisions and restrictions on meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan.

Sanaullah maintained that the courts were performing their functions and said the government would ensure implementation of judicial decisions relating to long marches.

The government delegation also maintained that Islamabad could not be allowed to be targeted in the name of protests and that threats of a long march or an attack on Adiala Jail were not an appropriate political approach. Government representatives also stressed that both sides would have to show flexibility.

Speaker Sadiq intervened during the discussions and urged the two sides to move forward through mutual understanding.

The second round began after Friday prayers. Following an exchange of proposals and recommendations, the two sides held separate consultations with their respective members.

Sources said opposition leaders remained in the speaker’s chamber and briefed their leadership about the progress and issues discussed during the talks. Government representatives separately discussed the opposition’s demands and recommendations in the conference room of the speaker’s chamber.

Naqvi and Sanaullah also contacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on the progress of the negotiations, according to sources.

Before entering the committee room, Speaker Sadiq told reporters that he was only facilitating the talks and hoped they would succeed.

Quoting the first verse of Surah Al-Fatiha, “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen”, the speaker said dialogue was the only way to resolve differences and problems.

He said his office would remain open for negotiations and efforts to resolve political issues, adding that positions and offices were temporary while Parliament was the forum where issues could be resolved.

Before Friday’s talks, Tariq Chaudhry had said the government would enter the negotiations with optimism and that resolving issues through dialogue was in the country’s interest.

He had called for adopting a political approach instead of repeatedly marching on Islamabad and said the talks would seek to move towards possible solutions.

Talal Chaudhry had said PM Shehbaz had invited political parties to talks and urged them to resolve their issues through dialogue in Parliament.

The negotiations followed a meeting of opposition leaders on Thursday, after which Barrister Gohar said the opposition had accepted the government’s invitation for talks.

The opposition has announced a long march towards Islamabad for October 4, after an earlier date of September 27 was changed. Opposition leaders had said on Thursday that they would not postpone the planned march.

The talks are also taking place amid concerns raised by federal ministers over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the PTI’s planned long march. Federal ministers have also indicated that the imposition of governor’s rule or emergency in the province could be considered.

The issue was also discussed at a meeting held at the President House on Thursday, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Naqvi and other political leaders.