ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) initiated negotiations with the government on Wednesday, but after the first round of talks they were no closer to a deal that might end the sit-in by Dr Tahirul Qadri’s supporters.

Dr Qadri is reportedly refusing to budge from his demand for the resignations of both Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif, as well as the registration of an FIR against them for the Model Town incident.

Also read: PML-N hints at going beyond SC commission to resolve crisis

Earlier in the day, PAT workers laid siege to Parliament House – at the call of Dr Qadri – where the National Assembly was in session and said they would not let any parliamentarians to exit the building. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, incidentally, was also in attendance at the time.

Hundreds of stick-wielding PAT workers tried to proceed towards the Presidency and the areas behind Parliament House, but they were stopped by Islamabad and Punjab police contingents. While many feared that a clash was imminent, the tensions were quelled after the military force guarding the legislature intervened and kept them from storming the building.

Following the move, a government team, consisting of Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Safron Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Haider Abbas Rizvi and Ijazul Haq, met PAT President Raheeq Abbasi and Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and agreed to honour the PAT’s ‘legitimate demands’.

However, in press interactions, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat and other PAT allies said the government had sent Mr Rafique to negotiate despite the fact that he was among the individuals named in PAT’s case about the killing of 14 party workers in Model Town on June 17.

“We will not talk to those who have been nominated in the case,” Chaudhry Shujaat said, adding that the impasse began with the Model Town incident and it will end with the resolution of the issue.

The government then replaced Khawaja Saad Rafique with Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal when the team finally met PAT leaders. The PAT delegation included Ghulam Mustafa Khar and Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali.

After meeting the government team, PAT leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said they believed that dialogue should be positive and result-oriented. He said PAT could not hold formal talks with the government’s team unless leaders of its allied parties, including Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and the PML-Q joined the talks. “We will wait for our allies and then negotiate with the government,” he said.

“I think the ice is melting now,” Abdul Qadir Baloch said after the meeting when asked if he was hopeful of a positive outcome.

He said the government was ready to accept most of PAT’s demands, save the resignation of the prime minister and the removal of the government.

Khawaja Saad Rafique thanked PAT leaders and workers for “opening their doors for talks with the government”.

The meeting took place outside Dr Qadri’s container, but Dr Qadri did not attend. When the two ministers approached the container, PAT workers began chanting anti-government slogans. At this, Dr Qadri emerged from his cabin and chided his workers, telling them not to hoot at the government representatives.

“They have come to our door, respect them and let them talk,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014