PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shaukat Yousafzai has stated that the third round of talks between the government and his party may be the last as the attitude of the rulers is not serious. He added that the government appeared to be on the back foot.

He added that Imran Khan had already said that the government lacks authority but it was good that PTI initiated talks to expose the government.

He emphasized that the establishment should now realize that PML-N and PPP are burdens to the country. “They talk about Pakistan’s progress, but where is the money?” he asked. Yousafzai argued that without law and order, the rule of law and political stability, no one would invest in Pakistan.

Criticizing the government for taking loans of Rs 27 trillion in two years, he asked where this amount was spent and demanded accountability as the public has not received any relief.

He accused the government of being afraid of negotiations and questioned why Imran Khan’s negotiating committee is not allowed to meet if the government really has the authority. Rejecting claims of development in Punjab, Yousafzai said distribution of laptops cannot win hearts. He noted that many youths accepted laptops from Maryam Nawaz but replaced her image with Imran Khan’s on them.

He expressed disappointment over the media spat between Afzal Marwat and Salman Akram Raja and urged the top leadership to ensure discipline in the party.

It seems that the provincial and central leadership of the party seem to be on the same page when it comes to talks with the government.

On Thursday, PTI’s central leadership questioned the dialogue process with the PML-N-led government after the ruling coalition failed to arrange a meeting between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and the party’s negotiating committee. The meeting could not be held despite earlier promises that it would go ahead.

Talking about the delayed meeting with former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala jail before the next round of talks, the PTI leadership said there are now doubts about the other side’s ability to deliver.

Despite the government’s failure to grant its negotiating committee access to the party supremo in Adiala jail, the PTI leadership has categorically stated that it is not pulling out of the dialogue process.

At the same time, it is waiting for the government’s next ‘apology’.