PTI authorises Fazl to mediate between govt, opposition, says Junaid Akbar

He clarified, however, that PTI had not invited the JUI-F chief to join the long march, which, he said, was aimed at securing a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan, his release and hearings of his cases.

Read:Sharjeel Memon accuses K-P CM of 'sabotaging' talks with govt“Our own desire is that we move forward by taking all political parties along,” he said.

Akbar said Maulana Fazl himself had requested PTI to delay the long march, telling the party that he would return from Umrah on Oct 7 and play the role of mediator in the matter as he wanted the issues to be resolved through dialogue.

He said PTI had always sought to resolve political issues through negotiations, but when it was not heard and given space, taking to the streets remained a constitutional and legal option.

“Our effort has always been to resolve issues through negotiations, but when we are not heard and are not given space, the only legal and constitutional option left for us is to come out on the streets,” Akbar said.

He said Maulana Fazl had so far not conveyed any offer from the government to PTI., the only communication so far had been that the government had contacted the JUI-F chief and that Maulana Fazl had subsequently asked PTI whether it wanted him to play a role in the matter.

Akbar confirmed that PTI had authorised the JUI-F chief to mediate between the government and opposition over the recent standoff, saying the party had no objection if the government also wanted him to play that role.

Asked about negotiations with the government, Akbar said the two sides had “almost” reached an understanding, but the issue of terrorism — on which he said there should be consensus — had been made controversial. Also Read:‘No way back’: Afridi vows to continue PTI long march as convoy reaches Peshawar.

He said discussions had been under way about ending the long march and questioned how the issue of military operations and emergency had entered the talks. “Our impression is that the government does not want the issues to be resolved through dialogue,” he said.

No decision on parliament boycott. Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja dismissed speculation that the party would resign from parliament or boycott the assembly session if governor’s rule or an emergency was imposed. Speaking on a private television programme, Capital Talk, Raja said no decision had so far been taken to resign or boycott the parliamentary session.

He said the party would decide after consultation at a meeting of its parliamentary party. Asked about the meeting with Maulana Fazl, Raja said the discussion had covered issues relating to the country’s recent political situation, but categorically denied that the JUI-F chief was playing any mediatory role.

Read More:Govt has kept 'all doors of dialogue open' with opposition: parliamentary secretary. Raja said the constitutional rights of K-P were “under attack” and that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was fighting for those rights. “The long march is a political process and our legal and constitutional right.

Why should we back down?” he said. He said major decisions in the national interest could be taken if PTI leadership was allowed to meet incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan. Raja said the PTI founder could not be removed from the country’s political arena and maintained that he must be included in any political dialogue.