Linking the success of the talks with the sincerity of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Saturday called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resume the stalled negotiations from where they had left off.
“If you are serious about the negotiations, we will continue the effort [right] from where it had left off. If [Prime Minister] Nawaz Sharif is sincere about negotiations, we may reach a conclusion within 48 hours,” Imran told PTI workers and office-bearers in Lahore.
The PTI chief was visiting the city to drum up support for his city shutdown plan on December 15. His party has been staging sit-ins in Islamabad since August 16 and has now started a series of strikes to pressurise the government into accepting its demand for an independent audit of the May 2013 elections which, it claims ,were rigged in favour of the ruling PML-N.
Imran pointed out that Nawaz’s party and PTI had all but hammered out an agreement on crunch questions during their previous round of talks. The sticking point, however, was proving that the PML-N was involved in rigging the May 2013 general election, he added.
“While the process of resumption of talks is under way and the two rival parties may sit together even on Tuesday, the delay by the government is telling,” said Imran. The government, according to the PTI chief, could have started negotiations even on Friday but chose not to.
Imran warned the government against using its ‘Gullu Butts’ to stop his protest. “Let there be no mistake that the PTI’s youth will counter [your attempt]. And then whatever happens will be the responsibility of the government,” he said.
“Don’t resort to violence, but if they commit violence then don’t yield,” he told his supporters. “On Monday Lahore cannot be stopped,” he added.
Speaking about a recent incident involving manhandling of journalists during the PTI’s Karachi shutdown on Friday, he said there had been a ‘mistake’ in Karachi. “But we are not sure whether those involved in the incident were PTI workers or not,” he added.
Imran urged his workers to convince people to close their shops on Monday. He said he is aware of the meeting, in which the government has decided to ‘force’ markets to remain open. He said if change is required then the people of Lahore should sacrifice one day.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Ajaz: The only slogan proven country-wide is: Ro Imran Ro We all know that this guy & follower youthias have been crying his heart out on Containers for the past many months!
Go nawaz go
How can u care about imran khan strikes costing so much loss what about the corruption of these corrupt governments maybe should think about that and support imran khan for change
GO nawaz go
I just like most overseas pakistanis support imran khan in his war to get rid of the corrupt governments that keep cheating and coming into power
We want fair and free elections
Go nawaz go
@Raghu: You must be talking about your Nokia110 or your old laptop that you need to shut down to rebuild. All youthias must understand the reality that Pakistan cannot be shut down on the whims of a bunch of losers, who have their own children in UK. Everyday of strike & closure costs more than $1Billion to the Country. This loss, due to strikes in 3 cities, should be recovered by selling the grossly undervalued properties of Imran Niazi and Makhdoomzada SMQ.
GO NAWAZ GO.
Shutdown to Rebuilt!
I don't see any sincerity from this government to end this crisis, they are more interested in pro longing this kind of situation and trying to keep the status co as it is, this is a dictatorial mind set government where they shoot there own people fro protesting against them peacefully, no one gets arrested for murdering innocent and unarmed civilians, no one gets prosecuted even after swiss courts give there verdicts about the corrupts, the only thing they know is to use our TAX money for there propaganda and to hold on to this thorn.
“But we are not sure whether those involved in the incident were PTI workers or not”. Those were PML-N guys trying to give PTI a bad name ;) I don't know why Khan is showing so much restraint to not name PML-N.
And if u were sincere enough, we won't have this drama as we have now from the last 5 months. Go imran go.
Imran needs a break to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his kids and friends in London. After celebrating new year eve, he will call off talks and start again his evening fun. Government should agree for talks but in new year.
The Taliban sympathiser curting cake with minorities of Pakistan. What do we deserve to see this picture?
No, it depends on you behaving like a gentleman, something totally not in your nature. Stop invading govt . buildings, stop ransacking cities, stop sending your hooligans to disrupt the markets. Then, just maybe, talks would be conducive.
The bags must open. The truth must come out!