Opposition leaders to meet Imran Khan today; Marwat warns PTI

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub and former speaker Asad Qaiser had a telephone conversation with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Both leaders formally requested a meeting between the opposition negotiating committee with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.

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National Assembly Spokesperson confirmed that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has been informed about the message of both leaders of Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI), adding that the Speaker only played the role of a messenger in that the government should arrange the meeting.

Meeting likely today

After contacting National Assembly speaker, the PTI’s negotiation committee is likely to meet PTI founder Imran Khan today.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said told both Ayub and Qaisar that it was not his responsibility to arrange a meeting, however, he will try to arrange the meeting between incarcerated former PTI chairman and the current party leaders.

Ayaz Sadia also reportedly contacted government officials to arrange the meeting of the negotiation team. PTI team will present its written demands to the government’s negotiating committee after the meeting.

Sher Afzal Marwat speaks up on intra-party differences

Meanwhile, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat has broken his silence on the differences in PTI and said that if anyone speaks against him on media, he will not stay silent either.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Marwat said that he had given a commitment to the party that he will not create any more controversy on the issue of Salman Akram Raja. However, no one has the right to make statements against him to the media, Marwat said.

He said that some people are not able to tolerate the his public populality. He also said that there are pressure groups in PTI that also influence and sway Imran Khan’s decisions. “But I have never approached Imran Khan for grouping,” says Marwat.

He further said, “I was nominated as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, but that too was withdrawn, I also had to leave the practice of law for the party.” Marwat said, “no one other than the founder of PTI should try to be my boss”.

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Speaking on the negotiations, Marwat said that PTI is showing great restraint but the government is trying to create chaos. “But when we will sit at the negotiating table, the atmosphere will improve,” he added.

He also refuted PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan’s statement that no backdoor negotiations are taking place, saying that “meetings did take place between November 22 to November 25. Obviously offers were made to us. It is wrong that we did not get any offers.”