Inside Story of First Round of Government-Opposition Talks Emerges
Islamabad: Details of the first round of talks between the government and opposition have emerged, with the meeting reportedly witnessing a heated exchange over the political and security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to sources, as soon as the talks began, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi presented what he described as a charge sheet against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He reportedly blamed the provincial government for the situation following attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the prevailing law-and-order situation in the province.
According to sources, opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas rejected the charge sheet against the KP government and Sohail Afridi, saying the opposition had come to discuss political issues rather than terrorism.
He reportedly told the government delegation that it was linking the negotiations to terrorism, while the opposition wanted to discuss political matters.
Raja Nasir Abbas also questioned the arrests of members of parliament, asking who would be held responsible for such actions by state institutions.
According to sources, he argued that PTI leaders were expected to make decisions without meeting party founder Imran Khan, even though government officials could not take decisions without approval from their leadership.
Raja Nasir Abbas reportedly said that a solution to the issues could emerge once Mahmood Khan Achakzai and he were allowed to meet Imran Khan.
In response, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman questioned what guarantee there would be that the issues would be resolved after such a meeting.
Raja Nasir Abbas reportedly replied that the opposition would take responsibility and that the situation would improve after meeting the PTI founder, adding that no meaningful outcome could be expected until the meeting took place.
Sources said the first session mainly featured remarks from Mohsin Naqvi, Raja Nasir Abbas and Barrister Gohar. Barrister Gohar also presented to the government delegation the points conveyed by Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
