Iqbal links dialogue to former ruling party\u2019s apology over May 9 riots; Asif says he is not in favour of talks
\n Islamabad
\nAmid reports of an \u201cindirect dialogue\u201d with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led (PML-N) leaders strongly opposed talks with their political nemesis.
\nPlanning Minister Ahsan Iqbal linked the holding of any dialogue with the PTI apologising for allegedly staging last year\u2019s May 9 violent protests that saw attacks on public properties including military installations following party founder Imran Khan\u2019s arrest in a corruption case.
\nDefence Minister Khawaja Asif also opposed the talks with the former ruling party, saying he is not favour of any such dialogue.
\nPreviously, the ruling parties extended an olive branch to Imran Khan-founded party several times but to no avail, as latter stating he will hold talks with those who wield real power in the country.
\nThe ruling party leaders\u2019 statements came amid reports that the PML-N had purportedly approached Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai for holding talks with the PTI.
\nAchakzai, who also heads the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan, was nominated by jailed Khan to hold talks with the ruling parties.
\nResponding to the report, Asif \u2013 while speaking to journalists \u2013 said that he wasn\u2019t part of \u201cteam assigned to talk to PkMAP chairman\u201d.
\nWhen asked whether talks should be held with the former ruling party, the PML-N stalwart said: \u201cI\u2019m not in favour of negotiations.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, Iqbal also opposed dialogue with PTI until Imran Khan \u201capologises for the violence carried out on May 9\u201d.
\nSpeaking to journalists after a consultative meeting of PML-N leadership, the planning minister claimed that PTI, in collaboration with India, had the \u201canti-Pakistan\u201d resolution passed in the US House of Representatives that sought probe into the alleged irregularities in the February 8 general elections.
\nCriticising the PTI, the minister accused the party of causing more damage than terrorists and questioned the possibility of dialogue with such individuals.
\nIqbal further said that the deposed premier was \u201cenjoying five-star facilities in the jail\u201d, adding that they also faced imprisonment but never complained.
\n\u201cHe [Imran] wants NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] which he will not get,\u201d he said while referring to the deal granted by former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf to close down corruption cases against his political rivals.
\n\u2018Talks within constitutional limits\u2019
\nEarlier on Aug 3, Imran said that he was open to talks but only within the \u201cambit provisioned by the Constitution\u201d.
\nKhan had clarified that he has, in fact, asked Achakzai to negotiate with political parties.
\n\u201cAchakzai will only [hold] talk with political parties,\u201d he said.
\nThe incarcerated politico had in July also put forward three conditions to hold talks with the government in a bid to bring political stability in the country.
\n\u201cThe first condition is that my cases should be dismissed, the second is to release our party members and third is to return our mandate,\u201d Khan said while having an informal talk with the journalists in Adiala Jail where has been incarcerated since August 5 last year in multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Iqbal links dialogue to former ruling party\u2019s apology over May 9 riots; Asif says he is not in favour of talks Islamabad Amid reports of an \u201cindirect dialogue\u201d with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led (PML-N) leaders strongly opposed talks with their political nemesis. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal linked the holding of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":426194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-428341","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n