PTI delegation makes breakthrough in talks with disgruntled PML-Q

Defence Minister Pervez Khattak holds talks with Chaudhry borthers

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-INsaf (PTI) held a meeting with top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) in an effort to assuage their reservations threatening the alliance between the two parties.

PML-Q Secretary General and federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said after a meeting between the two sides that the their alliance would continue and that PML-Q’s Punjab Minister Hafiz Ammar Yasir, who recently tendered his resignation, would continue as the minister.

“For now, there is no threat to our alliance. Our leadership has put aside the resignation of Hafiz Ammar Yasir, while I myself have been told to continue as federal minister,” Cheema said.

The PTI delegation, led by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, which met the PML-Q leadership, was formed on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan after a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Provincial Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi failed to make a breakthrough.

According to Cheema, the prime minister took personal interest in the matter and sent the delegation. The government delegation listened to the grievances of “our party’s ministers and assembly members and we made progress on redressal of 70% of the issues”.

He hoped that their issues would be addressed but said that if the party felt that the PTI was not serious in taking “practical steps on our grievances,” the party leadership would chalk out its future strategy.

However, the final decision would be taken by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and party leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
According to Khattak, the prime minister wanted to meet the Chaudhry brothers in a congenial atmosphere, when all issues were resolved. “For this reason, he has tasked us to address their reservations and find solutions to the issues.”