Deadlock continues in Pakistan

Differences emerge in talks over PM’s resignation & fresh poll

A government delegation led by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) representatives and other Opposition leaders, who were leading a sit-in in Islamabad demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation, on Tuesday, but failed to resolve the deadlock.

“So far we are holding on to our demands. Our stance is the same as before,” JUI-F leader Akram Durrani said.

“We have our own stance; they [Opposition] have their own stance,” said the Defence Minister.

“We are trying to find a middle ground so that both the government and the Opposition can find a way-out. On many things, we have agreed to their demands. Talks were held in very good atmosphere. We will talk to our leadership,” Mr. Khattak added.

He did not say which are the demands the government has agreed to. Reports indicate that the two points on which the government did not agree were the Prime Minister’s resignation and fresh elections. The protesters had also demanded an end to the Army’s interference during elections and the protection of the Constitution.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday met Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the JUI-F, regarding the “Azadi March’. Mr. Elahi is the Speaker of Punjab Assembly.

(Originally published in The Hindu)

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