PTI and PAT agreed to have direct talks with the Government team in the presence of the Jirga

Lahore: Members of the Political Jirga had a meeting with the negotiating team of PAT in Islamabad this afternoon where PAT agreed to have direct talks with the Government team in the presence of members of the Jirga. The Jirga consisted of Amir Jamat-e-Islami Siraj ul Haq, Rehman Malik, Liaquat Baloch, Farid Piracha, Kalsoon Parveen and Ghazi Gulab Jamal.

The PAT included Raheeq Abbasi, Hamid Raza, Nasir Abbas, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and Tariq Bashir Cheema.

After the meeting, Siraj-ul-Haq and Rehman Malik said the deadlock in dialogue is over. They said the two sides are still sticking to their point of view but it is appreciable that they have agreed to talks directly.Direct talks between the Government negotiating team and that of PTI and PAT are to be held separately tonight to break the political impasse.

Siraj-ul-Haq said the two sides would discuss the issues involved and the Jirga members would be there to facilitate in case there is some problem. He expressed the confidence that the two sides would demonstrate flexibility for finding a peaceful and negotiated settlement.

Rehman Malik said they also urged the PAT team to evacuate the Parliament House premises and they have promised to consider it locating to the other side. He said all political parties want to solve the problem through talks.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Joint Session of the Parliament, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi also confirmed that their team would have talks with the Government team tonight.

Talking to newsmen, member of the PAT negotiating team Raheeq Abbasi said they also want resolution of the political crisis at the earliest. He said PAT put forth its demands and proposals to the Jirga relating to Model Town incident, rigging, and agenda of reforms. He said they have proposed establishment of a National Reform Council. He said tripartite talks among Jirga and Government and PAT negotiating teams would be held at ten tonight.

The Jirga members also had a meeting with the PTI negotiating team ahead of direct talks between the Government and PTI teams.