Call off protest and we’re ready to talk, govt tells Khan

• PM says yes to talks with PTI but warns to deal sternly with violators of law
• Info minister alleges Khan won’t accept any judicial commission if it decides against PTI 
• Dar says PTI did not consider govt’s proposal to postpone Faisalabad show, says govt will see PTI’s protest today before making decision

As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to “shut down” Faisalabad today, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Sunday gave a go-ahead to resumption of talks with the party however warning that stern action would be taken against those who violate the law during protests.

Per reports of a meeting between the premier and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Raiwind, the PM has directed Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who earlier headed a government team formulated to negotiate with PTI leaders, to prepare terms of reference (TOR) of negotiations with PTI.

The TOR will be presented at a consultative meeting which will be held today in Islamabad with the PM in the chair.

Sources said the meeting will discuss PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s demands for a joint investigation team with intelligence members onboard and the formation of a judicial commission to probe alleged vote rigging.

During the Raiwind meeting, the two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders also discussed PTI’s Faisalabad protest.

“PML-N workers have been advised to remain peaceful,” said Nawaz, adding that violators of law would be firmly dealt with.

KHAN HINDERING FORMATION OF JUDICIAL COMMISSION:

Moreover, Federal information Minister Pervaiz Rashid lashed out at the PTI chief during a press conference, terming Khan the “biggest obstruction in the path of the formation of a judicial commission to probe poll rigging”.

“The government has already written a letter to Supreme Court on August 13, asking the apex court to form a judicial commission to probe PTI’s allegation of rigging in previous elections. Now on what issue should the government hold talks with PTI,” he asked.

“Khan will not accept the verdict of any judicial commission if it does not decide in his favor,” said the minister, adding that even if the judicial commission declared the elections to be “transparent and fair”, Khan would continue the sit in and protests.

He further said that if PTI chief is serious about having an enquiry carried out by the judicial commission and wants to come to the negotiation table then he should first cancel all his plans to bring the country to standstill and announce to end his sit-in Islamabad.

“We are waiting that Imran stops the politics of sits in and agitation and comes to the negotiating table,” said Rashid.

The minister said the PM had suggested that negotiations with PTI should only be resumed after consulting parliamentary leaders of various political parties in Parliament.

The minister said that it was the PTI chief who had called off talks last time as he called back his negotiation team while the government’s committee led by Dar “was sitting at the negotiation table”.

Rashid accused Khan of rejecting the election tribunals, adding that Khan’s “lies” would be exposed after the opening of ballot bags of NA-122.

“PTI submitted false fake documents and affidavits in election tribunals and also presented false witnesses,” Rashid alleged.

“Khan has forgotten that he backed the appointment of former chief election commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and congratulated Ayaz Sadiq on winning the elections from NA-122.”

The minister said Khan accepted elections of 2002 held by dictator Pervez Musharraf but is “not ready to accept results of 2013 elections which were held under a constitutional set up”.

Condemning Khan’s statement wherein he had allegedly said that if he was in power, he would not have let Army start operation in North Warizistan, Rashid alleged that it is the mission of Khan to attack the Parliament, Army, economy and cities to fulfill predictions about Pakistan being a failed state, adding that Khan had become a spokesman of terrorists.

Commenting on PTI’s plan to shut down Faisalabad today, Rashid said, “Imran’s attempt to lock down Faisalabad will also fail just like all his previous plans.”

GOVT CAN’T FORCE PTI TO TALK:

In the meanwhile, talking to media, Dar said that the government cannot force PTI for talks at gunpoint, adding that he invited PTI for talks on Sunday evening but PTI “insisted on protesting”.

“The government believes in talks and does not have any problems in forming a judicial commission in line with the constitution.”

Dar said that the reduction in petroleum prices had nothing to do with Khan. “Petroleum prices are linked to international market,” he said, adding that PTI’s sit-ins and protests have damaged the economy.

“Just when Pakistan’s economy assumes the right track, foreign hands get active in attempts to destabilise the country,” opined Dar, adding that political parties should sign a charter of economy to ensure economic stability.

WE’LL PICK UP FROM WHERE WE ENDED:

Special Assistant to the PM Irfan Siddiqui has also expressed the government’s willingness to hold “serious, sincere and meaningful dialogue with PTI”, adding that talks with PTI would be resumed from where they were suspended.

Talking to a private news channel, he urged the PTI leadership to postpone its ongoing protest campaign against the government to make the environment conducive for dialogue.

Siddiqui said that on PTI’s demand, the government has announced a judicial commission of the Supreme Court to probe rigging allegations. A Parliamentary Electoral Reforms Committee has been set up to improve the existing system, he added.

ABID SHER SAYS NO TO CHAOS IN FAISALABAD:

Alleging that PTI activists “are planning to create a law and order situation in Faisalabad on Monday (today), PML-N leader and State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said Sunday that the government would not allow PTI to close down shops and markets or “disturb routine life by show of force and violent protests in Faisalabad”.

Talking to a news channel, Abid, who hails from Faisalabad said, “Protesting is the fundamental right of political parties in the democratic system but the government cannot permit anyone to endanger public life and property.”

“Free movement is the basic right of every citizen and PTI should avoid depriving the public of its right for personal gains and unconstitutional demands,” he said, adding that the state’s writ would be ensured at all costs.

“The nefarious designs of PTI would fail as educational institutions, markets and public transport would function as per routine in Faisalabad,” said the minister.