ISLAMABAD: An important contact has taken place between the government and the opposition, with Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas confirming his meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
A journalist asked Raja Nasir Abbas whether he had met Mohsin Naqvi during the week. He confirmed that the meeting had taken place.
According to Raja Nasir Abbas, matters concerning PTI founder Imran Khan and the long march were discussed in detail during the meeting. He said the meeting took place at Mohsin Naqvi’s request and that he had not approached anyone seeking the meeting.
According to sources, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar arranged the meeting between Raja Nasir Abbas and Mohsin Naqvi. The meeting lasted around 1 hour and 15 minutes, and Barrister Gohar also participated in it, the sources said.
Sources said the meeting was held at the residence of a relative of Raja Nasir Abbas, where the proposed PTI protest on September 27 was also discussed.
According to sources, Mohsin Naqvi asked Raja Nasir Abbas to meet the prime minister so that the matters concerning relief for PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi could subsequently be discussed. Sources said Mohsin Naqvi also discussed the possibility of cancelling the September 27 protest.
Raja Nasir Abbas maintained that meetings with the PTI founder would have to be restored for negotiations to move forward.
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Sources said that if the protest call was withdrawn, the possibility of transferring Bushra Bibi to Bani Gala could also be discussed. Sources further said that Raja Nasir Abbas also arranged a telephone conversation between Mohsin Naqvi and Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
Raja Nasir Abbas said a meeting with the PTI founder should be arranged so that he could be consulted regarding withdrawal of the protest call.
According to sources, Mohsin Naqvi said that if the protest call was withdrawn, there should be no fresh protest afterward. His position was that once the call was withdrawn, it should remain withdrawn.
Sources said Barrister Gohar also met the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding the matter, while consultations on the protest were also held on Monday and Tuesday.
However, sources within the opposition alliance said that no final progress was made during the meeting regarding the September 27 protest and that the meeting did not produce a meaningful breakthrough.
