Successful talks: Govt and PAT likely to strike a deal
Following an agreement PAT may wind up its sit-in before Eidul Azha
ISLAMABAD:
Negotiations between the government and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are likely to bear fruit in a day or two as both parties are continuously engaged with each other to reach a final consensus draft, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.
The government committee, led by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, held important round of talks with the PAT delegation, led by Raheeq Abbasi on Tuesday night in Islamabad during which they came close to a consensus, according to sources.
Following an agreement the PAT might wind up its sit-in in Islamabad before Eidul Azha, they added. According to details shared by sources, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s two key demands have been accepted.
Now Punjab government will form a Joint Investigation Team on Model Town incident with consensus of the PAT and all cases registered against Dr Qadri or his followers will be quashed. Apart from this, around 600 of the PAT’s workers will also be released.
A top official in PML-N said the party believed that someone had assured Dr Qadri that Model Town incident’s FIR – in which 21 people including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were nominated – would lead to the punishment of all allegedly involved in the crackdown in which 14 PAT worker died.
Some sources in the PAT said Dr Qadri was going to hire some legal experts from UK to file a case on the ground of Model Town FIR.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid confirmed the development. “I am 100% sure that negotiation will be successful in one or two days,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing his supporters, the PAT chief said he would move across the country and expand his movement in each town and city particularly in Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.
Negotiations between the government and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are likely to bear fruit in a day or two as both parties are continuously engaged with each other to reach a final consensus draft, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.
The government committee, led by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, held important round of talks with the PAT delegation, led by Raheeq Abbasi on Tuesday night in Islamabad during which they came close to a consensus, according to sources.
Following an agreement the PAT might wind up its sit-in in Islamabad before Eidul Azha, they added. According to details shared by sources, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s two key demands have been accepted.
Now Punjab government will form a Joint Investigation Team on Model Town incident with consensus of the PAT and all cases registered against Dr Qadri or his followers will be quashed. Apart from this, around 600 of the PAT’s workers will also be released.
A top official in PML-N said the party believed that someone had assured Dr Qadri that Model Town incident’s FIR – in which 21 people including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were nominated – would lead to the punishment of all allegedly involved in the crackdown in which 14 PAT worker died.
Some sources in the PAT said Dr Qadri was going to hire some legal experts from UK to file a case on the ground of Model Town FIR.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid confirmed the development. “I am 100% sure that negotiation will be successful in one or two days,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing his supporters, the PAT chief said he would move across the country and expand his movement in each town and city particularly in Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.