Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak and Shah Mehmood Qureshi met with government officials, and proposed turning the party’s sit-in into a rally if the government announced dates for election. A reliable Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) source told Friday Times that the meeting was held on PTI Chairperson Imran Khan’s request.
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif allegedly turned down a proposal by Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Qaiser to forego the long march if election dates were announced.
Earlier today media reports suggested that representatives from PTI and the government had been negotiating for two and a half hours, after which an agreement was reached. As per the alleged agreement, PTI called off the sit-in, and will only have a rally in the federal capital.
However, leaders from both the government, as well as the PTI, have refuted such reports, dismissing them as baseless and untrue.
PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the meeting was proposed by PTI as they were looking for a ‘safe exit’ after seeing the march ‘fail’.
یہ درست ہے۔ دو دن سے مارچ ناکام ہوتا دیکھ کر یہ کوئی safe exit کی تلاش میں تھے۔ آج جب لانگ مارچ مکمل ناکام ہو گیا تو یہ اب دھرنے کی بجائے جلسہ کی تجویز لے آئے۔ حکومت نے عمران خان کے کسی بھی مطالبہ کو ماننے سے انکار کر دیا ہے۔ https://t.co/8E3wSMdSR8
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 25, 2022
She claimed in a tweet that the PTI had allegedly proposed a meeting with the government today, during which the government refused to accept any of their demands.
Previously, PTI Chairperson Imran Khan denied that any deals or agreements had been made, saying there was ‘no question of a deal’.
Rumours & delib disinfo that a deal has been done. Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given. Calling all ppl of Islamabad & Pindi to join
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 25, 2022
“We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given,” he said.