ISLAMABAD
\nThe Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government and the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are set to hold the \u2018final\u2019 round of talks on May 2 (Tuesday) after the former ruled out the possibility of a deadlock between the sides.
\nFollowing the second round of talks held on Friday in Senate\u2019s Committee Room the two sides decided to consult with their top leadership and allies over the proposals presented during the meeting.
\nBoth delegations were hopeful of concluding on Tuesday, but PTI warned that the talks could \u2018derail\u2019 at any point if the law enforcers keep arresting its workers.
\nPTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said they had placed their suggestions before the government. \u201cHowever, it is to be noted that 33 PTI activists at PTI chief Imran Khan\u2019s appearance before the IHC were arrested without any pliable reason,\u201d he added.
\nHe went on to say that arrests would sabotage the process of negotiations. \u201cIf you want matters to settle, arrests must be stopped,\u201d he added. PTI leader Farrukh Habib, he said, was barred from travelling abroad.
\nPTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the media after the meeting that talks incepted with the mention of arrests of PTI activists. \u201cWe will travel to Lahore tomorrow and will take Mr Khan into confidence,\u201d he added.
\nMeanwhile, the PML-N\u2019s Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Azam Nazeer Tarar and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq along with PPP\u2019s Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani and Syed Naveed Qamar are representing the government.
\nFollowing the conclusion of talks today, Dar said each side had tabled two proposals, which would be presented to the government and PTI leadership. \u201cSome progress was made today\u201d, he said, adding that the talks would resume on Tuesday at 11am for a \u201cfinal round\u201d of the dialogue.
\nWhile the talks were under way, the negotiating teams had taken a short, with Dar telling the media that the session would be resumed after 15 minutes.
\nWhen they were returning to the Parliament House\u2019s committee room number 3 \u2014 where the meeting was held \u2014 reporters asked Chaudhry whether they contacted PTI Chairman Imran Khan during the break, to which he replied in the affirmative.
\nBoth the government and the PTI decided to turn the Terms of Reference (TORs) which were agreed upon during yesterday\u2019s meeting in black and white. On Thursday, both sides agreed to find a political solution to the impasse over elections through dialogue.
\nThe government and the opposition held initial negotiations about holding simultaneous elections in the country and other matters regarding poll date.
\nAhead of second round of talks today, Shah Mehmood Qureshi resented the arrest of PTI workers by the federal capital police during Imran Khan\u2019s arrival at the Islamabad High Court. He said though the police have released the PTI workers but they did not create any law and order situation. He, however, said that he is still optimistic.
\nOn the other hand, while talking to media outside the Supreme Court building, SAPM Attaullah Tarar said that the government and the opposition are holding dialogue over elections and \u2018it is hoped that the talks will be fruitful\u2019.
\nHe said that negotiations between the government and the opposition are being held in positive manner. To a question regarding the PTI demands, Tarar said \u2018When the PTI will put forward its demands, then we will come to know\u2019.
\nWhen a journalist asked him whether the government is ready to announce the poll date before October or extend it beyond November, the SAPM replied \u2018this is not the case. Let\u2019s see what happens during today\u2019s meeting\u2019.
\nHe said that negotiations do not aim at delaying the polls, rather we are seriously trying to find a solution to the impasse. The PTI wants assurance that elections will be held this year, he added..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government and the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are set to hold the \u2018final\u2019 round of talks on May 2 (Tuesday) after the former ruled out the possibility of a deadlock between the sides. Following the second round of talks held on Friday in Senate\u2019s Committee Room the two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":328145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-328117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n