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ISLAMABAD: After the government signalled that it could be open to talks with the protesting Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the latter cautiously reciprocated on Tuesday, saying that if both sides could sit across the table, the party would consider deferring its call for shutdowns in major urban centres.
That this exchange of positive gestures came from the chief negotiators on both sides makes it even more significant. In an interview on a private TV channel, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that if talks resumed by Dec 6, “I can personally request party chairman Imran Khan to postpone his call to blockade Faisalabad on Dec 8”.
Also read: Govt ready for talks with PTI, claims Shah
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who led the government team negotiating with the PTI, said — on the same TV show — that if the PTI gave them the assurance that it would not go ahead with the shutdown call, “I will reach out to the prime minister so that talks can be resumed by Dec 6 or 7”.
Nawaz Sharif is currently in London and is expected back on Dec 6.
Know more: Talks still an option for govt, PTI
“We are caught up in the appointment of a new chief election commissioner, which has to be finalised by Dec 5,” Mr Dar said, adding that there would be no delays as far as the government was concerned.
Qureshi says party may defer Faisalabad strike if talks begin by Dec 6
When asked what her party’s stance would be if the government contacted them before Dec 8, PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari told Dawn the party could defer its shutdown call for Faisalabad, “depending on how the talks go”. This is also what Mr Qureshi said during his interview, she added.
There is every possibility that both sides would be back on the negotiation table soon, but it remains to be seen whether the government accepts PTI’s demand for a thorough investigation of the 2013 general election’s results through a judicial commission.
“Personally speaking, I don’t see any breakthrough happening in the near future. The government is in no mood to heed PTI’s demands that a judicial commission determine whether the last elections were rigged and if they prove to be, the PM must resign,” a senior PML-N leader told Dawn.
On the other hand, the PTI does not look like settling for anything less than what it has demanded: a thorough probe assisted by officials from intelligence agencies and a firm commitment from the government that in case rigging was proved, the prime minister would resign.
The ruling party member Dawn spoke to foresaw more confrontation in the days to come.
When asked, a PTI insider said the party leadership was absolutely clear that its survival was contingent upon proving that the current PM was the primary beneficiary of ‘flawed elections’.
Published in Dawn December 3rd , 2014
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On DawnNews
Comments (45) Closed
Dec 03, 2014 06:12am
Ik has nerves of steel. He wont let this gov go without a decisive investigation. But it seems gov has excuses for every situation he creates. No matter what Pakistan is never their(gov) interest.
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Dec 03, 2014 06:32am
NATO blockade did not work; biggest ambarrassment for PTI and choreman IK.
PTI knows that so-called plan C will not work!
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Dec 03, 2014 06:58am
for your info Dawn its Quershi who said that "I can personally request party chairman Imran Khan to postpone his call to blockade Faisalabad on Dec 8” its a request that Quershi wants to make not a decision of PTI nor IK.
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Dec 03, 2014 07:13am
No need to postpone it. Keep the pressure on.
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Dec 03, 2014 07:15am
If Election 2013 is proved to be rigged, the culprits should be severely punished but just rigging should not invalidate Election 2013. There were millions of legitimate voters and their votes should not be thrown in waste basket. On the other hand If it is proved that the extent of rigging was such that if there was no rigging then the Nawaz Sharif's party could not have achieved enough number of seats to form a government. Only in that case the Election 2013 should be declared Null and Void. This will be fair and just.
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Dec 03, 2014 07:38am
What choice Imran has to save his embarrassment and failure, PTI is looking for a safe exit, they do no have street power to shut down cities, by the way why they spare KPK from all this mess?
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Dec 03, 2014 07:40am
Let the talks begin, although not very hopeful!
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Dec 03, 2014 07:58am
When demands of PTI are not going to be met by the Government, what is the use of holding negotiations/talk. Both Government and PTI should end this endless Tamasha and relieve the poor masses of this country from continuous tension.
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Dec 03, 2014 08:13am
It is sad to see what a mess they have created in the political arena of Pakistan. I am sure they would have achieved more sitting in parliament. What they gained how ever is a segment of the society that is blindly following the path. Today even to criticize PTI in some of the segment of the Society becomes difficult. They have created a situation much like Bush did either you are with us or you are against us. This is never a progressive step forward. We need to remember what happen to Irak Afghanistan Libya with this kind of attitude. I expected better from the PTI leader but I think he too is highly emotional and the emotions are running away with him all to often. Leaders need to be rational more over they need to transmit the rational way forward not a dream that is impossible to materialize in the near future. Our Nation needs to change and the change comes within each of us.
At home begins what should shine in a Nation we need to never forget that .
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Dec 03, 2014 08:14am
Why is PTI bent on talks with the hypocrites? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
"Jis khait say dehqan ko mayassar na ho rozi
us khait kay har khosha-e-gandum ko jala do"
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Dec 03, 2014 08:14am
Better for both the parties to climb down from their present stance and start talks. Ministers should avoid statements.
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Dec 03, 2014 08:19am
Good reciprocity from both sides. Hope the negotiations are meaningful and quick.
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Dec 03, 2014 08:34am
It's good that the parties are talking but PTI must not accept anything less than full investigation of 2003 elections. If found rigged the government resigns and fresh elections held in a free and fair manner.
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Dec 03, 2014 08:39am
pM come clean and give way to investigations.
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Dec 03, 2014 08:43am
I can see a U turn coming!
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Dec 03, 2014 08:50am
Finally some common sense by the Govt,PTI must not give up on his demand of probe into 2013 election rigging.Future of Pakistan depends on it.
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Dec 03, 2014 08:53am
What is the credibility of these PTI leaders? Causing trouble for the businesses, economy and social peace of the country, thats what they are all capable of, thats it!!!
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Dec 03, 2014 08:59am
So Imran fought to get negotiations with the government which he already had the option to do before November 30th. Nothing this guy does makes any sense and is definitely not a smart person.
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Dec 03, 2014 09:17am
The PTI demand is reasonable, if it is proved the election was rigged, then the PM should resign/
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Dec 03, 2014 09:38am
Very good move by PTI and excellent opportunity for the government to tackle this crisis in rational way.
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Dec 03, 2014 09:51am
PTI is soft on negotiations ... the 'strike' should remain ON, and be 'put off' ONLY if the negotiations are proceeding well.
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Dec 03, 2014 10:36am
@Skeptical: If you call prudence and putting common people's interest first "U TURN", so be it, WHO CARE.
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Dec 03, 2014 10:55am
@Lucky Star
Actually, it did work. The only reason the US started conducting drone strikes again is because our "Esteemed" judiciary outlawed that blockade causing the pressure to be lifted. Had the blockade still been active, we would not have seen drone strikes.
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Dec 03, 2014 11:04am
PTI shouldn't back off from the shut down call even the government show interest to come back on the table. PTI has all power on the streets to shut down all major cities. This fake illegal government has been playing games with PTI, government knows if they open recounting, the rigging will be proven and fake PM will have to resign. Imran Khan is the man, man of honor, a real Tiger.
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Dec 03, 2014 11:06am
No justice in Pakistan. It is might is right country
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Dec 03, 2014 11:35am
I believe there are CCTVs and hidden cams in all polling stations. Happens in Phillipines. For the next elections, Pakistan should contemplate having it.
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Dec 03, 2014 11:43am
I supposed it's good movement from both sides to resolve this issue. All ministers should avoid from misstatement and should not try show embarrassment to other party. We need a meaningful, fruitful dialogue for our Pakistan, for our Future.
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Dec 03, 2014 12:05pm
PTI and Government must sit together and find an amicable solution to the current political crisis in the best interest of the country. Otherwise once again 3rd party will take over and politicians including PTI will be the biggest loser along with our beloved country.
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Dec 03, 2014 12:07pm
@Abdul Rehman, U.S.A.
PM should ONLY resign if it is proved that election was rigged by NS and only beneficiary of this rigging was PML(N).
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Dec 03, 2014 12:23pm
N league is famous for forming commissions, committees to prolong any matter , they would do same in this case. PTI beaware from hypocrates.
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Dec 03, 2014 12:52pm
Shah Mahmood Quershi was almost begging Ishaq Dar for negotiations on Javed Chaudhry's programme last night. He looked like he was going to be sick from all the humble pie him and the PTI have had to eat over the last few weeks.
Imran Khan has got to be one of the most immature leaders in Pakistan. Whoever named him 'Im the Dim' was spot on. The man has no brains whatesoever.
This isn't cricket Imran, this is blood and guts politics. Grow up.
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Dec 03, 2014 01:01pm
@Khan-Haqiqi
IK will keep the pressure on. Qureshi's statement is not official PTI policy. Qureshi said he might try to convince IK after govt talk offer.
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Dec 03, 2014 01:12pm
Unless Imran Khan is willing to refrain from exercising a legal right his rigid stance of resignation of Nawaz or a judicial investigation upon the belief the 2013 were massaged its sole beneficiary being PM or is he prepared to show the godly quality he possesses of tolerance, forbearance, patience, calmness, and forgiveness, the negotiations are going no where. The way forward is a coalition government with Imran Khan as PM and Dr Qadri on Constitutional changes to bring major reforms in the police service, judiciary, electoral reforms including appointment of non-partisan Chief ECP with 2 subordinates, introduction of mandatory health insurance paid by employers and free education to all under 16 including vocational re-training of unskilled labour force. In such a set up, Nawaz to have a role moving into the Presidential slot with unequivocal support of passage of Bill of Rights before next elections, NAB be wound down to be replaced by an independent Prosecution Service to form part of the Court service. Imran Khan be given a free reign to select a team from within both Parties excluding Ministers whose elections results remain suspect. Nawaz if he is sincere will allow passage of all bills to leap frog Pakistan into turning into a progressive nation. In addition Nawaz will make himself answerable to a court of law, or a Government agency or FBR pertaining to his vast assets in England and Dubai, a frank disclosure of commissions paid in the recently signed power projects, Qatar gas deal and motorway project by the Turks.
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Dec 03, 2014 01:17pm
Among all the bluster of a city and country wide shutdown, which will be another damp squib like the civil disobedience call, let it not be forgotten that PTI has been forced to come down from its high pedestal of asking for PM ‘s resignation. The call for shutdown is just a fig leaf. One can imagine PTI leaders sitting and licking their self inflicted wounds – but then do they really have any leader of substance. If yes, they should have had seen this day coming much earlier.
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Dec 03, 2014 01:27pm
@rehan - you are preaching to the deaf and dumb people of Pakistan. Your sane worlds have little meaning to them. I wish there were lot more people like you in the land of the pure.
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Dec 03, 2014 01:40pm
Is it a change of heart a divine inspiration or is it an American inspired putting Nawaz into a tight corner of loosing US support unless an agreement was forthcoming with Imran Khan. It appears the latter as events dictate a meeting of Imran with the Ambassador followed by a vitriol criticism of US by Khawaja Asif. Imran elected to exercise restraint as negotiations could be tricky in asking Nawaz to step down or be elevated to the Presidency with Imran as PM forming a bipartisan government appointed strictly upon merit but exclude the four constituents whose election remain controversial. Imran however should not compromise on judicial investigation of 2013 elections, FBR investigation into foreign assets previously held or commissions on the recent power agreements with China and not forgetting LNG gas deal with Qatar.
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Dec 03, 2014 01:59pm
Apparently there is nothing to investigate. If they had any credible evidence of rigging they must had produced that before the media at least. Its nothing but blame game for political mileage and to impede government efforts to bring investments for economic revival.
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Dec 03, 2014 02:57pm
After 10 overs bowled of the 20 mandatory overs when the fielding Captain knows he cannot get the remaining 5 wickets to win he shakes hand and concedes his efforts. That is what IK must do now. He cannot win for sure.
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Dec 03, 2014 03:49pm
@Lucky Star Have some shame as your own country gets attacked and rather than standing against that as a sovereign nation you are commenting against IK. What kind of national pride do you have?
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Dec 03, 2014 03:54pm
@Zahid What is not smart about wanting a transparent investigation? How many times do you want to be fooled by the family corrupt politics!
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Dec 03, 2014 03:59pm
@Haider Rehman
Shah Mehmood Qureshi's (vice chairman) statement is not official PTI policy. Javed Hashmi's (president) statements were not official policy. Does PTI even have an official policy outside of Imran Khan's statements? Or does each of his ad hoc pronouncements become official party policy?
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Dec 03, 2014 04:27pm
its good that IK gave them a stern warning of blockades. People criticising IK for blockades see the results pmln back on the negotiating table. These corrupt politicians want to remain in power without any questions asked. Asif Zardari criticised IK for 16th December but forgot one thing who was the main politician who didn't want bangladeshi to get into power despite clear majority?. Who was politician who played major part in 1971 crisis?. Let me answer that for you. It was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
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Dec 03, 2014 05:29pm
Win or loose. History will say that imran khan was there standing for the right. Only fools do not learn from history.
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Dec 03, 2014 06:11pm
Do not understand what is wrong with this man. why he always threaten things he cant deliver.
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Dec 04, 2014 09:49am
Imran is on a unbelievable mission showing the heart and determination of a true warrior. The negative people are short sighted and losers, even if PTI hadn't won the election they would have had almost equal power in government and that my negetive friends would make all the difference.
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