The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formed a three-member committee that would hold negotiations with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) after the latter announced a fresh bid to hold talks between the government and Opposition (PTI) “on the ongoing political crisis in the country,”
According to a statement issued today by PTI, the three-member committee includes Pervaiz Khattak, Ejaz Chaudhary and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed.
Earlier Secretary General of PTI Asad Umar made the announcement on Twitter, saying that the decision came after a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan and JI Emir Sirajul Haq to break free from the on going current issues.
Issuing a notification in this regard, Umar said that the committee includes former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, PTI Senator Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhary and former Punjab minister Mian Mehmood ur Rashid.
The development comes after the JI emir held meetings with PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at their residences in Lahore with an agenda to bring the government and opposition closer and end the ongoing political crisis.
Sirajul Haq along with a three-member delegation held separate meetings with PM Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan and urged both parties to sit on the negotiation table.
During the meeting with the prime minister, the current political situation in the country and the judicial crisis were discussed. The leaders agreed that issues should be resolved with collective wisdom.
On the occasion, Sirajul Haq said that the political situation could only be resolved by sitting together and resolving issues politically.
“The country cannot afford any uncertainty at this time and holding elections at the same time is better for the country,” he said. Meanwhile, Imran Khan agreed to continue future contacts after Eidul Fitr.
Earlier Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had formed a committee to engage with allies in the coalition government to reach on dialogue with all political parties.
The development came after former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari urged Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to hold talks with opposition party – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that the nation cannot afford any odd situation.
“I will request PM Shehbaz Sharif to hold talks with the opposition and set no conditions before they begin talks,” Asif Zardari had said while addressing the Convention on the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the 1973 Constitution on Monday.
Remember that, PTI chief and his party have been holding protests and rallies since their ouster from Government in April last year and are demanding early elections, which the pdm government is denied.
The PTI dissolved Punjab and KP assemblies in order to force the government to hold countrywide elections, but the pdm administration did not holding elections due to ongoing economical crisis and lack of resources.
The situation took a twist when the Supreme Court ordered holding the polls in Punjab by 14th May. However, the parliament rejected the verdict, leading the judiciary and government to lock horns.
“The JI had decided to contact the political parties to build a consensus for holding elections on the same day,” he added. “The country cannot afford any chaos at this time,” confirmed JI Secretary Information Qaisar Sharif citing Haq.
Both sides agreed to continue meetings and include other parties too in the process, the JI leader added.
The two sides agreed to continue contact after Eid ul Fitr.
