'Govt only to consider PTI's written demands'

PML-N's Irfan Siddiqui says two parties agreed not to get influenced by external factors

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ISLAMABAD:

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a PML-N leader who has also been appointed as the spokesperson of a government committee holding talks with the PTI, has said the government panel will only consider written demands of the PTI without paying heed to Imran Khan's or anybody else's statements.

"Both the committees [belong to the PML- and the PTI] have decided to ignore external influences and statements in the process of the talks during its first meeting. Our negotiation committee will only consider written demands of the PTI," said Siddiqui.

The PML-N leader was speaking to a private TV channel on Thursday.

The senator said initiation of talks with the PTI and the formation of the government negotiation committee were approved by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.

He said the interior ministry was conveyed on the very first day to facilitate meetings between members of the PTI negotiating committee and PTI founder Imran Khan, who is detained at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. This facilitation will also continue in future, he added.

"The atmosphere was very positive, and it was a great opening," Senator Siddiqui said when asked about the details of the first meeting.

He said the mere act of the PTI and the PML-N sitting together is a major breakthrough.

"Since the PTI has also been in the government, it knows very well the constitutional and legal requirements for getting someone out of jail by an executive order," he said.

To a question about the Thursday conviction of 60 PTI workers by military courts and its potential impact on the dialogue process, he said both sides had agreed that the dialogue process will continue irrespective of the sentences or any other developments.

"I don't think that the recent verdict of the military court will hamper the talks," he added.

He also did not agree with the argument that keeping Imran Khan behind bars was a stumbling block in the talks. He said many prominent political leaders had served jail for a long time and yet the democratic process had never stalled.

He rejected the impression that there was any political unrest in the country. "All the state organs are functioning according to constitutional harmony and economic indicators highlight this fact. There is absolutely no political instability in the country," he added.

Senator Siddiqui thanked Imran Khan for his "recognizing" the government's efforts of saving the country from default and said that the efforts of PM Shehbaz Sharif and his team are so obvious that even Imran Khan is compelled to acknowledge.

When asked about American diplomat Richard Allen Grenell's tweets and statements, Senator Siddiqui said Pakistan's policies are not framed on the basis of such posts. "He is a non-entity. The State of Pakistan decides issues according to the constitution and law of the land," he said.

Meanwhile, PM Sharif appointed Senator Irfan Siddiqui as the spokesperson for the government's committee holding talks with the PTI.