Islamabad: The Pakistan government urged the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party to end its ongoing protest before proceeding for talks with the government, media reported.
“Protests and talks cannot go together,” information minister Pervez Rashid said while addressing a meeting of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Saturday, Dawn online reported.
Pervez Rashid asked the PTI leadership to take steps for making the “atmosphere conducive for the resumption of dialogue”.
“The atmosphere has been conducive to talks for past many months as there has been no violence or any unconstitutional act committed by the PTI,” said PTI leader Arif Alvi.
A Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) source said that the prime minister was expected to have a consultative meeting with his close aides in a day or two to discuss the agenda for talks with the PTI soon after his arrival from Britain.
Despite public pronouncements of their willingness to resume talks, both sides have been accusing each other of putting hurdles in the way of dialogue.