ISLAMABAD: Deadlock persists as first round of talks between government’s negotiation committee and opposition’s Rehbar Committee on Tuesday ended as the meeting could not show any progress.
While addressing a press conference after the meeting, Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, who is also and head of government’s committee revealed that majority of the demands of the Rahber Committee has been met. He added that talks will continue on the remaining issues.
He said that Rehbar committee must talk to its leaders as we are always ready for dialogues. “We are trying to find middle way as this is the only way to end the stalemate”, Khattak said
He said that both committees have agreed on many things and we are trying to find a way out.
Head of Rehbar Committee Akram Durrani on the occasion said we are firmly sticking to our demands. He said our demands are same from day one.
He stated that Rahber Committee remains steadfast on the demands of resignation of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and new general polls.
Durrani added that Rahber Committee has also tabled demand that army would play no role in the general polls.
Earlier, Government’s negotiation committee held meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in Islamabad for consultation on contacts with opposition parties.
During the meeting, government’s negotiation committee briefed the premier over its discussion with Rahbar Committee members. The participants also reviewed the current political situation in the country.
PM Imran said that the government is ready to accept opposition’s legal demands under law and constitution if it shows seriousness for negotiations.
Meanwhile, PTI government’s commitment to give top priority to exports stands exposed as it has, according to some estimates, impounded 4,000 containers mostly carrying export consignments to check the Azadi March of Maulana Fazalur Rehman.
This practice has been in vogue in Pakistan in order to stop agitators and strikers from gathering at one particular spot where they announce to protest on a particular date. But the magnitude of container impounding this time seems bigger than usual.
The impounding started a week before the proposed march and continues unabated. Any container that leaves a mill or factory fully loaded with export consignment gets impounded.
All containers from upcountry are booked for Karachi from where they are loaded on ships waiting for goods at the Karachi sea port. These ships follow a strict schedule. If the consignment does not reach the port in time, these ships leave for other destinations.
Pakistan’s major exports are textiles that have to be delivered to the global consumers within the promised date. When a ship leaves Karachi port without export goods, the chances of timely delivery vanish as few ships touch our ports and the next ship might come late.
Input with INP
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