The government negotiating team on Tuesday discussed a proposal of midterm elections after electoral reforms with Rahbar Committee of the opposition political parties, as the two sides agreed to continue talks till the current political standoff arose out of the JUI-F's 'Azadi March' is resolved.
Informed sources told Business Recorder that the government committee, headed by Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, tasked by Prime Minister Imran Khan to negotiate the four demands - resignation of the Prime Minister, early elections without any role of the military, electoral reforms and protection of Islamic provisions in the Constitution - discussed the proposal of the electoral reforms followed by midterm elections with the opposition's Rahbar Committee.
This, according to the sources, was talked about during the meeting between the two committees held at the residence of Akram Khan Durrani, the convener of the Rahbar Committee, which the opposition side will discuss with their respective leadership, prominently with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Headed by Khattak, the government team included Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Shafqat Mehmood, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and Asad Umar. The government team was also accompanied by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, speaker Punjab Assembly.
From the opposition side, the team led by Durrani of JUI-F, PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal and Amir Muqam, PPP's Nayyar Bokhari and Farhatullah Babar, Awami National Party's (ANP) Mian Iftikhar Hussain and others.
Later in a joint media talk, Khattak said the government has agreed on 'several' demands of the opposition, adding that efforts are being made to find a 'middle ground' on the remaining demands after consultations with the two sides' leadership.
"We are still negotiating and both the sides have their own stance and we are making efforts to find middle ground so that they [opposition] also retain its respect and the PTI government is also regarded," he said.
To a question, he said the government is ready for the 'agreement', adding that the opposition side will come back after consultations with their respective leadership on the points on which the two sides have differences of opinion.
He did not give further details about the points agreed upon and the possible 'middle ground' as well as the proposal of midterm elections. He said that meeting was held in a 'good' environment and it was also agreed to continue the negotiations.
Durrani, on the occasion, said that the Rahbar Committee unanimously reiterated the four demands including resignation of the Prime Minister. He said the Rahbar Committee had shared its demands with the government side on Monday which discussed the demands with it leadership.
"Till now, the situation is the same and we are stuck to our stance. Today, we all the members of the Rahbar Committee unanimously reiterated all our demands," Durrani said, adding that the government is trying to find a 'middle ground'.
The sources familiar with the discussions between the two sides revealed that the government side conveyed to the opposition's committee that it is ready to consider all the demands of the opposition other than resignation of the Prime Minister.
On the demand of an early election without any role of the army, the sources said the proposal of electoral reforms, which would also address the army's role in the polls, followed by midterm elections could be considered.
About the proposal of midterm elections, the members of the government team including Asad Umar and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi were repeatedly asked by this correspondent who neither confirmed nor denied it, saying that Pervez Khattak being head of the team will brief on details of the discussions.
Pervez Elahi, however, expressed his hope that the current deadlock will be resolved through the continued talks, adding that the two sides need to show flexibility.
Earlier, the government's negotiation committee held a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan for consultation on contacts with opposition parties. The Prime Minister has reportedly said that the government is ready to accept opposition's 'genuine' demands under law and Constitution if the latter shows seriousness for negotiations.
During the meeting, the government's negotiation committee briefed the Prime Minister over its discussion with Rahbar Committee. The participants also reviewed the current political situation in the country.
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