The fourth phase of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took place yesterday but ended with the deadlock intact. Both parties, however, agreed to continue the dialogue process and the fifth phase will begin today.
The restoration of the dialogue process led to the fourth phase. PTI’s negotiation committee comprises Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi, Asad Umar, Pervaiz Khattak, Jehangir Tareen and Arif Alvi whereas the government’s negotiation committee comprises Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rasheed, Abdul Qadir Baloch and Zahid Hamid.
Khawaja Saad Rafique and Ishaq Dar filled in because Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar was absent in the process.
PTI’s negotiation committee submitted that independent investigation without Prime Minister’s resignation is not possible because (they maintain) the Prime Minister can influence the process.
Addressing the media, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the position remains the same as the one was after third phase of negotiations.
He said that both parties have agreed to continue the dialogue and the fifth phase will begin tomorrow.