• Qaiser says dialogue not yet started
• Opposition threatens to give call for ‘civil disobedience’ if demands not met
• Senator says PTI’s readiness for negotiation must not be misconstrued as its weakness
ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser on Friday stated that the party had not yet initiated dialogue with the government and talks could be held only after the acceptance of three demands, including release of former prime minister Imran Khan and other party activists and constitution of a judicial commission comprising senior Supreme Court judges to probe violent May 9 and Nov 26 incidents.
Speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly after registering strong protest over the continued absence of the ministers from the proceedings for a third consecutive day, Mr Qaiser refuted reports in media and political circles that the PTI had begun talks with the government following his meeting with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
“I want to make a clarification. The media has been reporting since yesterday that [govt-PTI] dialogue is taking place and my meeting with the speaker is being referred to in this connection,” he said, clarifying that he had gone there only to condole with the speaker over the demise of his sister and not to hold any dialogue.
Mr Qaiser, who had served as the NA speaker under the previous PTI government, said they had formed a committee for dialogue, but the committee would proceed under the guidance of Imran Khan only when the government would show seriousness.
