LAHORE: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday announced that talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had ended, warning that the government would not allow protesters to storm Islamabad or permit a repeat of May 9-style violence.
Speaking at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, Naqvi blamed the breakdown of negotiations on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, saying repeated changes to the draft agreement had derailed a process that had otherwise moved close to a settlement.
He said the government and PTI had reached what he described as a “win-win” position, but the draft was altered several times after consultations with the KP chief minister.
According to Naqvi, President Asif Ali Zardari had been shown a final version of the draft, but fresh changes emerged after the government side returned from consultations.
He said the draft was changed four times despite individual issues having already been addressed.
Naqvi praised Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Barrister Gohar and Aamir Dogar for engaging in the talks in good faith, but claimed that elements within PTI itself had undermined the process.
“If the decisions were ultimately to be made by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, he should have joined the negotiations himself,” Naqvi said.
The interior minister said the KP chief minister had been invited to participate but did not attend. He added that the government would not have entered negotiations had it known the opposition committee lacked a representative carrying the provincial government’s full mandate.
Talks Focused on Terrorism, Not Politics
Naqvi said the negotiations involved six or seven points, none of which were political.
He said the discussions centred on terrorism and the federal government’s concerns over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The government wanted all political forces to stand together against terrorism, he said, adding that it was unacceptable for terrorism to continue in the province while provincial ministers issued statements against the military or stayed away from funerals of fallen personnel.
Naqvi also said the government had complaints that militants were receiving support at the local level and that these allegations required investigation and corrective action.
He said the KP chief minister became active in the negotiations at around 9:15pm and subsequently sought repeated changes in the draft.
No Request to Delay Long March, Naqvi Says
The interior minister denied that the government had asked PTI to postpone its long march.
He said the Pakistan Peoples Party had suggested delaying the march, while the government had already made it clear that negotiations would end if the march began.
Naqvi said peaceful protest was a democratic right but warned that any attempt to “storm Islamabad” would not be tolerated.
Those gathering for a sit-in would face legal action if they violated the law or court orders, he added.
He said the government was aware of the preparations being made for the long march and argued that a provincial government could not enjoy the benefits of office while simultaneously taking steps that, in the federal government’s view, went against state interests.
Naqvi warned that if any life was lost during the confrontation, responsibility would rest with the KP chief minister.
He also said the government would not allow a repeat of the violence seen on May 9.
President, PM in Contact Over Next Move
Naqvi said President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were fully in contact and had been briefed on the developments of the previous night.
He said both would jointly decide the government’s next course of action.
The interior minister maintained that the government and its negotiating team had spent the previous two days trying in good faith to reach a solution.
He again thanked PTI negotiators, particularly Asad Qaiser, Barrister Gohar, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Aamir Dogar, for their role in the talks.
Naqvi said the government’s priority remained unity against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but warned that dialogue could not continue alongside a march on the federal capital.