[Press Release 12 March 2014: Meeting of PM with Chairman PTI] Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accompanied by Interior Minister Ch Nisar and Irfan Siddiqui met with Chairman PTI Imran Khan today at the latter’s residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad. Also present were President PTI, Javed Hashmi, Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, CM KPK Khattak, Secretary General Jehangir Tareen, Central Information Secretary Shireen Mazari and Naeemul Haq. The informal meeting was to exchange ideas on how to expedite the peace process through dialogue and to share concerns and discuss ideas on how to proceed should dialogue fail. There was a recognition that it was imperative not only to isolate those unwilling to dialogue but also those actively seeking to sabotage the dialogue process. Both sides agreed that such failure would result in greater polarization and terrorism within the country. Chairman PTI and his team were informed of the latest developments relating to dialogue. CM KPK Khattak also gave a brief overview of situation in KPK. Chairman Khan once again reiterated that dialogue required a formalized structure to identify which groups were actually participating in this process. The PTI leader put forward that the utmost concern should be for the safety and security of the over 600 thousand civilians in NWA if the last resort of a military operation becomes a necessity. There was also a recognition by both sides about the importance of the media’s role in support of peace through dialogue. As the dialogue proceeds, PTI feared, the saboteurs would also become more active. The PTI leadership also suggested that the dialogue should also include the assurance by the Taliban for the safety of the polio health workers and the continuation of the anti polio campaign. PTI also suggested to the Prime Minister and his team that progress on dialogue should be shared with the nation through regular government press briefings to build up and sustain public support for the principle of peace through dialogue. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan agreed that it was important to keep each other updated regularly as the country was passing through a critical stage and the political leadership of the country needed to come together to seek peace and an end to the terrorism plaguing the country.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:09:20 +0000