PTI admits President Alvi’s role in ‘backdoor talks’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) openly conceded what had been an open secret thus far; that President Arif Alvi is engaged in backdoor talks with the government, even as party chief Imran Khan ramps up pressure for a ‘decisive’ march on the capital. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn that negotiations were being held with the government over the issue of elections. “President Sahib is holding the talks,” he said while replying to a question that at what level talks were being held between the two sides. It has already been reported in the media that President Alvi was making backchannel efforts to defuse the current political tension. He added the PTI was ready to hold a formal dialogue with the government if it agreed to hold snap elections. “If they (government) are willing to hold early elections, we can sit with them,” Mr Chaudhry said. In a comment on PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal’s statement about polls, the PTI leader said: “I think ruling party leaders are not on the same page as Ahsan Iqbal is saying this [election i Fawad says ‘not sure’ if long march will take place in Oct
Replying to a question, the former information minister said he was not sure if PTI’s long march will be staged in the federal capital this October. His statement is in contrast to a claim made by his party chief Imran Khan wherein he said the march would not be postponed beyond October. n six to eight months] while Rana Sanaullah is saying something else.”.
Imran seeks support for march
Earlier in the day, PTI Chairman Imran Khan met party lawmakers from Murree, Chakwal, Talagang, Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra and issued them special instructions for the long march. The lawmakers and ticketholders present in the meeting briefed Imran Khan on the preparations regarding the long march at the local level.
.Source: dawn.com