Daily Times

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government on Saturday contacted the opposition parties part of the ongoing Azadi March to find an amicable solution to the conflict.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser telephoned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif and stressed the need for resolution of issues through dialogue. The PML-N president told the speaker that door for talks are still open. Both the leaders agreed on steps aimed at strengthening the democracy.

Reports said the speaker also spoke to Awami National Party leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain regarding the Azadi March.

Separately, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani contacted Rahbar Committee member and Pakistan People’s Party leader Nayyar Bukhari who said he will respond after consulting other members of the body. Sanjrani said the government team is willing to meet the opposition’s Rehbar Committee for a dialogue.

Thousands of protesters under the rallying banner of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other opposition parties have converged on the federal capital, seeking to send packing Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, which they say is a ‘fake and selected’ regime.

Dubbed the ‘Azadi March’, the caravan, which set off from Sindh, culminated its journey Thursday night in Islamabad. Opposition leaders delivered fiery speeches against the PTI government on Friday, giving the prime minister a two-day ultimatum to resign.