Won't accept any unconstitutional, undemocratic demands: PM Imran tells govt committee

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan informed the government's committee negotiating that he will not accept any unconstitutional and undemocratic demands of the Rahbar Committee with regards to the Azadi March, sources said on Saturday.

The government’s negotiating team met Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the next steps regarding the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)-led Azadi March.

Meeting of the Pakistan Tehhreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) core committee discussed the prevailing political situation in the country. The meeting also included PTI leaders Asad Umar, Shafqat Mahmood, Shireen Mazari and Faisal Javed Khan.

According to sources, the negotiating team lead by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak will also contact the Rahbar Committee over JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s speech.

Read also: Govt to approach Fazl to remind him of earlier agreement

PM Imran has advised the Khattak-led committee to continue negotiating with the Rahbar Committee.

Sources said, prime minister advised Khattak and co to not to get blackmailed by the protesters. He added that negotiations should not happen if there was attempts to blackmail the government.

The prime minister said that the committee after meeting the Rahber Committee, should inform him of what democratic right the protesters are demanding.

Sources also said that PM Imran instructed the interior ministry to be prepared for any untoward incident.

Read also: Fazl gives PM Imran two-day deadline to resign

A day earlier, Khattak said the government had decided to approach Maulana Fazl after the latter gave PM Imran a two-day deadline to tender his resignation.

Fazl, addressing the crowd at Azadi March in Islamabad on Friday, had reiterated the demand for the prime minister’s resignation.

Following which, ruling PTI’s committee —constituted to hold consultation with the Rahber committee over the march — decided to approach Fazl again.