PTI suspends dialogue with government team: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his party had suspended negotiations with the government team.

The PTI leader said the decision had been conveyed to Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and it was taken because the government’s actions were opposite to their dialogue call. “Police has begun crackdown against PTI workers and is once again blocking roads in Islamabad.”

Qureshi’s statement came as the government team reached a local hotel here to hold talks with the PTI team which failed to appear for the meeting.

This was the second meeting scheduled between the government and PTI teams after the first round of dialogue took place late last night. During the first meeting PTI leaders presented six demands made by Imran Khan before the government committee.

According to sources both the sides agreed to end political turmoil through dialogues. The government team showed flexibility on all the demands except resignation of the prime minister.

Speaking to media after the first round of talks, PTI leader Arif Alvi said his party put forward six demands and the government team would present them before its leadership.

He said they discussed alleged rigging in general election 2013 and other issues in details with dialogue team.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said PTI presented its demands before the government negotiation team, adding that the first demand of his party was resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif.

To a question, Qureshi said: “PTI is a democratic party and it does not need ISPR”.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, member government talks team, thanked PTI delegation and said dialogues were held in a ‘good atmosphere’.

The Governor said whatever the decision is made by both the committees it would be in the interest of Pakistan.