CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Islamabad. Amid continuing political tension in Pakistan over the demand for former prime minister Imran Khan’s release, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for talks. However, he made it clear that dialogue would move forward only if the PTI ended its ongoing long march and protests towards Islamabad.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government and its allied parties had made efforts to hold talks with the opposition, but the negotiations failed at the final stage. The prime minister expressed concern that the long march and sit-in could affect the country’s economy, exports, imports and manufacturing activity, and appealed for political issues to be resolved through dialogue.
On the other hand, the PTI has questioned the government’s offer of talks. Party interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the government had made an offer for dialogue, but no concrete steps had been taken. The PTI is pressing its demands, including a meeting with Imran Khan and his release.
The long march by Imran Khan’s supporters began from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 4. Led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the PTI convoy reached Mattani on the outskirts of Peshawar on Tuesday. The party says the march will continue peacefully and that the movement will go on until an agreement is reached on key demands, including Imran Khan’s release.
The main disputes between the Pakistan government and the PTI include access to Imran Khan, his medical care, and differences over counter-terrorism policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For now, the political deadlock between the two sides continues, and the possibility of talks remains linked to the condition that the long march be ended.
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