Deadlock ends as PTI, govt hold dialogue

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  • Both sides agree to hold first round of formal talks on Saturday or Sunday
  • Ahsan Iqbal urges PTI to attend electoral reforms committee meetings

 

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had the first round of preliminary talks on Thursday with a government minister claiming later that the dialogue process had started on a “positive note”.

The preliminary talks were held between Federal Minister for Planning and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and PTI’s Asad Umar.

While confirming the resumption of talks, Iqbal said that both sides had started talks on a positive note and hoped that the second round of talks will yield further results.

However, both sides have decided not to reveal details of the talks to the media to avoid any controversy.

The second of the round of talks are expected to be held either on Saturday evening or on Sunday.

PTI Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari said that the two sides had discussed the future course of talks and that formal talks will start after PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi joins the talks process.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that PTI and PML-N exchanged some of their demands during Thursday’s talks and that both sides will present their replies during the second round of talks.

Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who spearheaded their respective teams during the last round of talks before they were called off, are expected to join the negotiations during the second round.

Qureshi is in Multan while Dar had to attend the Urs of Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery at Data Darbar in Lahore on Thursday.

ELECTORAL REFORMS MEETINGS:

Earlier addressing reporters in Lahore, Ahsan Iqbal urged the PTI to send its representatives to attend meetings of the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms so that the current political deadlock could be ended as early as possible.

“If the committee reaches a final decision over the electoral reforms, the PTI will later complain that they were not taken into confidence,” he said.

Iqbal said the government wants to move ahead with negotiations with the PTI in a conducive environment. He added that, “We had reached an agreement on the issue of the judicial commission since day one and there are no disagreements over the electoral reforms. We want to bring electoral reforms with national consensus.”

“There can be certain issues that need to be decided for the formation of the judicial commission, like the terms of reference, but there are no disagreements over the issue of electoral reforms. So the PTI should send its representatives so that a national consensus can be reached over the issue,” the minister said.