Govt, opposition begin talks in Islamabad
- Seek to resolve the nation's political challenges through dialogue
Government and opposition began negotiations at Parliament House to discuss the political situation and mutual interests, aiming to resolve issues ahead of PTI's planned long march.
- Government and opposition negotiations.
- Key figures in the negotiating teams.
- Government's push for dialogue over protests.
Negotiations between the government and opposition began at the Parliament House on Friday, with the two sides discussing the country’s current political situation and matters of mutual interest, Aaj News reported.
The meeting is being held in the committee room of the National Assembly speaker’s chamber, with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq leading the government’s negotiating team, ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s long march towards Islamabad scheduled for October 4.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Rana Sanaullah and Sherry Rehman are also part of the government delegation.
The opposition team includes Allama Nasir Abbas, Barrister Gohar, Asad Qaiser, Aamir Dogar and Salman Akram Raja.
During the meeting, the interior minister briefed participants on the security and law-and-order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A second round of talks is expected to take place after Friday prayers, according to sources.
Earlier, Tariq Chaudhry said the government would approach the negotiations with optimism, adding that resolving issues through dialogue was in the country’s interest.
He said political engagement was necessary instead of repeatedly marching on Islamabad, expressing hope that the talks would move towards a possible solution.
Talal Chaudhry said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had invited political parties to hold talks on various platforms.
He said the government had never hesitated to engage parliamentary parties and urged them to resolve issues through discussions in Parliament, adding that the opportunity should not be wasted.
The development comes a day after President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided that a joint delegation of the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would meet the PTI leadership on Friday to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country.
The decision was taken during a meeting between the president and the prime minister held here at Aiwan-i-Sadr. The president and the PM also reviewed the country’s overall political and security situation. The meeting expressed grave concern over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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