Naqvi defends direct rule 'as a last resort'

He says federal delegation had waited for hours while other side held consultations in separate room

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said the federal government had continued negotiations with the opposition and the K-P government until the last moment in an effort to resolve outstanding issues and avoid the imposition of emergency and governor's rule.

Speaking during the joint sitting of parliament, he urged lawmakers from both sides who had participated in the negotiations to verify the facts, saying the federal government had neither walked out of the talks nor imposed any unreasonable deadline on the other side.

Naqvi said the federal delegation had waited for hours while the other side held consultations in a separate room. He added that the government had repeatedly engaged in dialogue and made efforts to move the process forward.

Referring to a document containing the points discussed during the negotiations, the interior minister said the federal government had attempted to accommodate the other side's demands. He stressed that the negotiations had never been a matter of ego for the federal government, as it remained willing to facilitate an agreement.