PTI to hold ‘national conference’ on Dec 20-21 as war of words with ruling allies continues

ISLAMABAD: As members from the ruling PML-N and its allies continued their tirade against the PTI, the main opposition party on Wednesday announced that it would hold a “national conference” later this month, where a “national agenda” would be presented.

The announcement was made by PTI leader AsadQaiser after a meeting of his party’s parliamentary group at the Parliament House.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, he said the conference was scheduled for December 20-21.

The announcement comes amid boiling temperatures and continuing war of words between the ruling allies and the opposition.

As earlier addressing a news conference, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Information for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs IkhtiarWali Khan said: “things have reached a point of no return”.

Warning the PTI for its recent actions, Wali said: “We have tolerated you with much grace and for the sake of democracy. However, things have now reached a point of no return, no mercy and no tolerance.” “All doors to talks are now closed,” Wali said.

He went on to say that anyone supporting the incarcerated PTI founder “stood for the desecration of Pakistan’s sovereignty, honour, and development”.

Later, leaders from opposition alliance Tehreek-i-TahafuzAyeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), which also includes the PTI, addressed a press conference outside Parliament.

Among them, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar reiterated his party’s allegations that their “mandate had been stolen” in the last general elections.

“We did not stage a sit-in back then […] We sat in Parliament, believing that our voices will be heard, and a solution to our and the people’s difficulties will be found,” he said, adding that there had been multiple confrontations during the last two years. But, he continued, “at some point, common sense should prevail”.

Seemingly referring to the bar on meetings with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, he added: “If you keep parents in jail, […] how can the children sit together with you? And if you don’t understand this, then probably the public will make you understand.”

He again stressed that the use of force would not yield any results. “Common sense should prevail.”

PakhtunkhwaMilliAwami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai also addressed the press conference outside Parliament.

Apparently alluding to the prospect of talks between the opposition and the government, he said: “If anyone wants to hold a dialogue, permission must be given to meet PTI founder Imran Khan.

“How can we negotiate without his permission?”

Referring to the PTI’s sit-in outside the Adiala jail the previous night for Imran’s visitation rights and the alleged use of force by authorities to disperse the protesters, he said the leg of PTI parliamentary leader in the National Assembly ShahidKhattak “had been broken”. He warned, “If the public rises, everything will burn down. Before destruction strikes, we should move towards dialogue.” And for that, he reiterated, meetings with the PTI founder should be allowed. For his part, PTI leader AsadQaiser announced that the opposition had decided to convene a “national conference” on December 20 and 21, in which all political parties and bar associations would be invited. Staff Report