ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) shut the doors on negotiations with the government after last-minute attempt for a compromise deal failed and said it would observe “Yaum-i-Inqilab” on Thursday.
The government on Wednesday evening restarted talks with PAT leadership when Finance Minister Ishaq Dar leading a three-member delegation reached Dr Qadri’s container at the protest site in front of the Parliament House as cleric’s “48-hour ultimatum” for acceptance of demands ended at about 6pm.
Two sessions of the dialogue were held in which both sides appeared to dig in their heels and conceded nothing to the other.
PAT set the registration of murder case against all 21 accused named in the Model Town firing incident, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as a non-negotiable pre-condition for parleys to proceed, leading to continuation of stalemate.
The government delegation after the first session went back for consultations with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and was joined by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad in the second session, but the impasse persisted.
Mr Qadri speaking to his party workers at almost around midnight announced the failure of the talks.
He accused the interlocutors of being “non-serious” in negotiations and said the government did not believe in the constitution, democracy and human values.
“We tried our level best to find a way out of the crisis, but the government did not reciprocate,” he added.
Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, who joined Mr Qadri at the podium for announcing the end of dialogue, hinted that MQM could also support PAT protest after the latest development.
Dr Ibad said MQM chief Altaf Hussain had been closely following the protest and tried to help in defusing the situation. Mr Hussain, he said, had showed a lot of restraint, but could lose patience.
He said “legitimate demands” of PAT should have been met.
Dr Ibad’s indication could add pressure on the beleaguered government.
Dr Qadri did not announce his future course of action and asked his workers to reassemble at the venue at 3pm on Thursday.
PAT’s timing of announcement of final decision coincided with PTI’s call to its workers for the next move at 6pm, reflecting the coordination between the two parties.
Information Minister Pervez Rashid, in a statement on the breakdown of talks, said the government was ready to get “false” murder cases registered against its leaders, but had set the condition of Mr Qadri freeing his “hostages” — a reference to ending the sit-in.
Prime Minister Sharif after the failure of the talks with PAT cancelled his visit to Turkey for attending the inauguration of Turkish President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to TV reports. President Mamnoon Hussain would represent Pakistan at the ceremony on Aug 28.
Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2014
