PAT, government agree to hold talks

By
AFP
|
PAT, government agree to hold talks
ISLAMABAD: Formal negotiations between the government team and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are expected to take place in just over an hour.

A four member government team comprising Khawaja Saad Rafique, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Ijaz-ul-Haq met with PAT leaders while Dr Tahirul Qadri remained in his container only appearing briefly to address workers to remain calm and stop chanting slogans.

Speaking to the media, PAT leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said they believed in dialogue but it should be result oriented. He added that talks would resume with the government team when the PAT is joined by its coalition partners.

Federal Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said they had come to the site of the PAT sit-in with honest intentions and he was hopeful that differences would be eliminated through dialogue.

Abdul Qadir Baloch said the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not an option.