Sahibzada Hamid Raza gives time frame for conclusion of PTI-govt talks

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza said on Thursday that talks between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would continue in the coming days and conclude by January 31. 

Talking to the media in Rawalpindi, Hamid Raza said the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has called upon the overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances to Pakistan and this call is intact. He said that supporters of the PTI and its allied parties were being subjected to abuse. He said that Imran Khan has announced forgiving everything from the attack on him till his arrest. 

Referring to the ongoing sectarian violence in the Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hamid Raza said that Imran Khan had an important meeting with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimmeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas on the Kurram issue. 

Responding to a question about the violent May 9 mob attacks on civil and military installations across the country, Hamid Raza said that PTI and its allies were not involved in these attacks; these attacks were carried out by “other people”. He said that a judicial commission should be formed to investigate the May 9 incidents and those who instigated people to violence should be identified through CCTV footage. He said a separate judicial commission should be formed to investigate why the security forces opened fire on the PTI supporters during their protest on November 26. He said that release of the imprisoned political workers was part of the agenda for Imran Khan’s release. He said that Imran Khan will not be released as a result of any deal or signing a paper in the darkness of night; his release would be the result of a legal and constitutional process. He said that Imran Khan had to be released some time ago, but then the authorities brought up another FIR against him. 

Referring to the next round of talks between the government and the PTI, Hamid Raza said the next round of talks between the two sides would be held on January 2. 

When asked to comment on the ongoing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Hamid Raza said that Imran Khan condemned the attack on Afghanistan and said that Pakistan would not become part of any proxy in Afghanistan. He quoted Imran Khan as saying that Afghanistan is a brotherly country therefore issues should be resolved through talks.

Reporter: Irshad Qurashi