PTI long march: CM Pervaiz Elahi says ‘backdoor talks’ are underway

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Elahi has asserted that ‘backdoor talks’ were underway during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march towards Islamabad, ARY News reported on Sunday.

Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, the Punjab CM said that backdoor talks always take place during long marches. However, he did not mention who the talks were being held with.

In response to a question, CM Pervaiz Elahi refused to transfer the services of the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ghulam Mehmood Dogar to the federal government.

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A day earlier, it was reported that the federal government reportedly started backdoor talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in light of the party’s ongoing Haqeeqi Azadi Long March.

According to sources, the backdoor talks between government representatives and PTI leaders were being carried out through ‘close friends’.

Sources told ARY News that President Dr Arif Alvi was playing an essential role in the negotiations between the Imran Khan-led party and the government.

During the backdoor talks, sources claimed that the date for general elections was being discussed, adding the second round of negotiations will be held tomorrow.

Later, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan reached out for talks with the government a month ago through a mutual friend.

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Speaking to V-loggers in Lahore, PM Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Imran Khan had offered to conduct talks on appointment of new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and fair and immediate elections.

The prime minister further said that the PTI chief had proposed that both sides will agree on the name of the army chief. “Khan offered to conduct negotiations,” he said, adding that the PTI chief wanted to settle two issues through dialogue.

The premier said while he refused to negotiate on the matters, he offered Imran to hold talks on his offer to sign “charter of democracy and charter of economy”.