Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Salman Akram Raja rejected Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s accusation that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had sought to derail negotiations between the government and the opposition.
Speaking to Geo News’ Naya Pakistan program, Mr. Raja said Mr. Afridi was not responsible for the talks’ failure, arguing that the government had other intentions. He said the government had sought the imposition of emergency measures in five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 72 hours, a proposal PTI opposed.
According to Mr. Raja, PTI made clear that it could not agree to such emergency measures and that there was no disagreement between him and Mr. Afridi on the issue. He added that arrangements had been indicated for a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan on Tuesday.
Mr. Raja said PTI had also sought medical treatment for Mr. Khan in accordance with his and his family’s wishes, while the government insisted that any treatment must be provided under the Constitution and the law.
In a separate statement, Mr. Raja said the government had been unwilling to pursue consultation and consensus during the negotiations.
Mr. Naqvi, speaking at a news conference in Lahore, had said earlier that the government and opposition had reached agreement on almost all issues in their talks, but alleged that Mr. Afridi had attempted to sabotage the negotiations.
