Govt, PAT talks to continue again on Friday

Published September 10, 2014
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri. — File photo/AFP
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri. — File photo/AFP

ISLAMABAD: Deliberations between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) concluded in the federal capital on Wednesday.

The government's delegation comprised Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch whereas PAT was represented by President Raheeq Abbasi and Khurram Nawaz Gandapur.

Speaking to media representatives after the meeting, Iqbal said that they would meet with PAT negotiators again on Friday, adding that they desired that the political deadlock should be resolved at the earliest.

He said they were deliberating upon six of PAT's 10-point charter of demand but reiterated that the resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were out of question.

Meanwhile, Abbasi told reporters that Shahbaz was the main culprit in the Model Town incident, adding that he would have to resign along with his brother who is the premier as he could not have permitted police to open fire on protesters without his permission.

The PAT president said talks would proceed further if government showed flexibility.

Know more: Negotiations between govt, PAT remain suspended

PAT has a 10-point charter of demand — including the resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif — and lists an elaborate set of social reforms.

The party has demanded Shahbaz's resignation on allegations of involvement in the Model Town firing incident as their basic demand for negotiations to progress.

Talks between the PAT and government had been revived on Sept 3 through a jirga comprising opposition parties members.

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