JUI-F chief’s refusal to hold talks points to another agenda: Khattak

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday said that the opposition’s refusal to hold any dialogue points towards another hidden agenda.

Khattak has been appointed by the government to hold talks opposition parties over Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s march to Islamabad later this month.

The committee under Khattak reiterated its offer to negotiate with JUI-F and other opposition parties, but regretted that the other side’s refusal to negotiate shows ulterior motives.

“We are requesting the opposition parties to come and talk. Because if you have any issues then you should talk. This is a democracy,” he said while addressing a press conference.

Rejecting any possibility of a resignation from the prime minister, he warned that the stubborn attitude will result in complete chaos and lawlessness.

“If you don’t sit with us and talk, then we would have fulfilled our responsibility. Whatever happens afterwards will be on you,” he said referring to the opposition parties.

He said that Kashmir dispute is the foremost issue faced by the government which sees to be cast aside after the opposition’s protest. “It seems there is some other agenda; an agenda has been formed to bury the issue of Kashmir,” he said.

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He cautioned Fazl not to attack the foundation of the institutions, warning that in such an event, the government will then be left with no choice but to act make decisions according to the law.

He added that that the committee is in contact with senior leadership of different parties such as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Awami National Party (ANP).

He negated the impression that the government had been pushed into forming a committee out of fear, and that such issues can only be resolved through dialogue.

The defence minister said the government wishes to sit down and hold talks and strengthen the country’s position against external threats.

He further said opposition had never once approached the government in the assembly or otherwise presented its demands., calling on the JUI-F chief to give the government’s offer some thought.

“He should think about Pakistan. If his agenda is Pakistan, it he loves his homeland and has love for Kashmiris, he will have to sit down and talk with us.”

The defence minister said that if the agenda is to create anarchy and to let Pakistan slip further, then he should continue with the march.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that his party will support the Azadi March under the JUI-F. He said that there will be a rally on Oct 31, in which the future strategy will be laid out and a list of demands will be presented to the government.