As protesters marched to Islamabad demanding the release of ex-prime minister Imran Khan, several clashes erupted between protesters and police, repots the Dawn.
However, the government and the PTI apparently opened a ‘back-channel’ for the sake of negotiations.
In a late-night presser, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi seemed to confirm talks with the protesting party, saying that the government had offered Sangjani, on the outskirts of Islamabad, as a venue for their protest.
However, the PTI leaders met Imran Khan for a second time late on Monday at a specially arranged meeting, where they reportedly laid the government’s proposals before the incarcerated party founder.
The outcome of the meeting was not immediately clear, as the PTI delegation left without speaking to the media.
However, Mr Naqvi said that they were waiting for a response from the party and asked journalists, who were insistent on getting an answer, to wait for an outcome.
Earlier in the day, sources claimed that PTI and government leaders had held talks, ostensibly to finalize a venue where PTI supporters could be allowed to stage a demonstration in Islamabad without affecting the peace.
While both sides didn’t categorically confirm the talks, Naqvi hinted that the government was awaiting a response from the PTI.
Later, in his last press interaction of the day, he said: “As per my information, they have got permission from there (Imran Khan) as well,” adding that a formal response from PTI was still awaited.
Earlier on Monday, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan held his first meeting with Khan in prison, after which he told the media the PTI founder had refused to withdraw the protest call.
Late night media reports suggested that PTI leaders were trying to prevail upon Bushra Bibi, who is leading the main caravan of protesters coming from KP to Islamabad, to accept the proposal to change the protest venue.
However, early Monday the interior minister said: “The government would deal with violent protesters with an iron hand.” He added that he wouldn’t hesitate to impose a curfew or invoke Article 245, which empowered the government to call armed forces for security purposes.
However, he was also a part of the negotiation team — including National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Ameer Muqam and Rana Sanaullah — which reportedly met with a PTI team, comprising Barrister Gohar Asad Qaisar and Shibli Faraz at the Ministers’ Enclave, sources claimed.
On contrary, the prime minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and other government leaders criticized PTI’s protest and held the party responsible for the death of a police constable.
In a statement on Monday, PM Shehbaz condemned the death of Constable Mubashir and ordered the immediate arrest of those responsible for it.
He said the perpetrators involved in the May 9 riots were “once again resorting to violent acts”.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called out PTI for once again pursuing the politics of “chaos and anarchy”.
Meanwhile, the United States appealed for restraint from Pakistani authorities and thousands of protesters marching on the capital to call for the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan.
State department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing on Monday: “We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and refrain from violence and, at the same time, we call on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to ensure respect for Pakistan’s laws and constitution as they work to maintain law and order.”
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
