ISLAMABAD: Both Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri announced an end to negotiations with the government, following a crackdown that saw nearly 300 activists from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and allied parties picked up from across the capital on Friday.

“I suggest to you, Mr Shah Mehmood Qureshi, to halt the ongoing dialogue with the government,” the PTI chief thundered from atop his container at D-Chowk.

The sentiment was echoed by his counterpart camped out on Constitution Avenue. “We have suspended the talks as the government has begun arresting my workers in Islamabad and around the country,” Dr Qadri told the participants of his sit-in.

Ghulam Ali, media coordinator for PAT, told Dawn that early on Friday morning, police picked up a number of party workers from Aabpara.

“It is because of these arrests that we have decided to suspend dialogue with the government because they are playing a double game,” he said.

The Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen – a PAT ally – also announced that it would be suspending talks with the government following the arrest of Asad Abbas Naqvi, who was a member of the team negotiating with the government.

Meanwhile, PTI General Secretary Jehangir Khan Tareen told a television channel on Friday that under the prevailing circumstances, it wasn’t possible for the party to keep talking to the government.

According to him, the party handed its final set of demands to the government.

But behind-the-scenes, a PTI office-bearer told Dawn that in case the government agreed to form a judicial commission which could independently investigate the results of the last general elections, the party might drop its condition of securing the prime minister’s resignation. “But as of now, the government is resisting even the demand to set up such a commission,” he added.

Softer tone?

Dr Qadri said the government had blocked the roads of Islamabad and Rawalpindi once again in a bid to stop PAT workers from reaching Constitution Avenue. The government was unwilling to hear out the legitimate grievances of people who had been camped outside the halls of power for a month now, he added.

The PAT chief said his personal bodyguards had been arrested and alleged that the Punjab government had already started action against PAT workers to stop them from reaching the capital.

Dr Qadri invited federal ministers to come and join the sit-in and address the participants’ concerns, saying that he would guarantee their safety. “I am ready to end the sit-in if the ministers succeed in convincing these demonstrators that their demands will be met,” he said, softening his tone.

“I know what is discussed in the meetings of the ruling party because I have my spies who give me all the updates I need,” he disclosed.

People’s army

Belying the impression that he was supported by the military, Imran Khan declared, “I don’t need the Pakistan Army, as I already have an army of the people of Pakistan.”

He said the government was behind the arrests of PTI supporters and requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take action in this regard. He also said the government was trying to stop PTI supporters by putting up roadblocks on the roads of the twin cities.

“The government is trying to instil fear among the participants of the sit-in by using terrorists (as the bogeyman). But I don’t feel any threat from terrorists, only from Nawaz Sharif,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2014