PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has urged the Pakistan Democratic Movement to postpone its scheduled Peshawar rally in view of the terror threats.

According to a statement issued here on Monday, provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai, following a meeting with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, said the government was ready to hold talks with the opposition parties on all matters except accountability.

He urged the PDM leaders to postpone the Peshawar rally in the larger public interest.

“Peshawar has witnessed a tragic terrorism incident in which innocent children of a madressah were targeted. The PDM should reconsider its Peshawar rally in view of the potential threat of terrorism. The provincial government will not impose any ban on rallies and processions. On the contrary, all the rallies and processions of the opposition will be given full security. The PDM should not play with the lives of the people to save the corruption of some leaders,” Mr Yousafzai said.

The minister said the nation stood by its security forces in the fight against terrorism. He said the opposition had no agenda of public interest, and if they had the one, the government was ready to negotiate with them.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was aware of inflation and was taking strict measures to control it.

Shaukat Yousafzai said the talks offer should not be considered as a weakness of the government.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2020