Opposition Demands Neutral Venue for Government Talks

ISLAMABAD — An opposition leader confirmed on Tuesday that his alliance was prepared to enter talks with the government, insisting that the dialogue should take place in a neutral venue.

Speaking to DawnNewsTV, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, chief of the PTI‑allied Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), confirmed that the government had invited opposition leaders to meet at the prime minister’s office. However, he emphasized that the opposition preferred Parliament House as the venue for the discussions.

During the interview, host Nadir Guramani questioned Abbas about recent ministerial statements, including those by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, regarding an offer for talks to the PTI‑led opposition. Abbas replied that while they were open to sitting with the prime minister and other ministers, they would not attend meetings held at the PM’s office or in the National Assembly speaker’s chambers.

Conversely, Abbas expressed readiness to meet the prime minister and other government representatives in the Constitution Room of Parliament House, noting that they awaited a response to their counter‑offer.

Abbas warned that pursuing a collision course could harm the country, urging that an amicable solution be sought via negotiations. He questioned, “If access to talks, judicial remedies, and elections is denied, what options remain for us?”

Abbas revealed plans to stage nationwide demonstrations on the anniversary of PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest, noting that the responsibility for mobilising street action lies with the KP chief minister, Sohail Afridi.

He credited Imran Khan’s sisters for keeping his detention in public discourse, recalling an earlier high‑profile arrest involving former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, arguing that such cases too are often forgotten. He declined to address intra‑party criticism of Aleema Khan but praised the sisters for persistently drawing attention to the leader’s incarceration.

Source link