The second round of talks between government and leaders of two parties Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), who are demanding ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, failed to produce any results.

Islamabad, Aug 23/Nationalturk – The political uncertainty continues in Pakistan as second round of talks between government and leaders of two parties Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), who are demanding ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, failed to produce any results.

The second round of talks between government representatives and PTI and PAT leaders were held on Friday evening.

Senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters after the meeting that both the sides presented their demands and reservations.
“The government presented its viewpoint on our demands, which include resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

The government representative in talks Ahsan Iqbal, who is also a minister in Nawaz government, said, “Both sides are moving forward and will consult their leadership before next round of talks scheduled for Saturday”.

He said both sides will continue talks and  no deadline has been given by PTI leaders during the talks.

The government representatives also held talks with PAT leaders, who alongwith PTI are sitting outside Red Zone comprising parliament, Prime Minister’s House, President’s House, Supreme Court and embassies of various nations.

‘Govt-PAT talks not progressing’

Sources said talks between government and PAT leaders haven’t progressed enough to reach a definitive point. However, the two groups have agreed to continue the dialogue.

“The government’s seriousness would be determined after one or two rounds of dialogue,” Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief and cleric Dr Tahiul Qadri told reporters.

He said his party had not refused to hold dialogue and their doors for dialogue were always open.

“PAT did not just want resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but we want a change in the system,” Qadri said.

The PAT chief asked the rulers to remove restrictions as millions of people were willing to join his sit-in.

He alleged that government is supplying contaminated water to protestors and asked his workers not to use the contaminated water being provided by the government.

PM resignation can be discussed: Minister

Pakistan newspaper, The News, quoted a senior minister in Nawaz government, Khawaja Asif as saying that the proposal of the prime minister’s resignation can be discussed.

Asif, who is Pakistan’s Defence Minister, said he would stress on PTI chairman Imran Khan that the constitution clearly states procedure to remove the prime minister.

“According to the constitution if a party has strength of votes in the parliament, the prime minister can be removed.”

Imran and Qadri have vowed that they won’t call off their protests and sit-ins till PM Nawaz Sharif resigns.

In a related development, PM Nawaz Sharif is to host former president and opposition PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for lunch at his Raiwind residence with observers attaching much importance to the meeting.

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