Pakistan: Government, PTI remain 'rigid' amid whispers on 'backdoor' talks

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By  India Blooms News Service   Dec 11, 2022

Islamabad: The political situation in Pakistan remains in trouble as talks between the government and the PTI remained shrouded in confusion as the two sides maintained polar opposite stances on early elections amid reports of a backdoor contact, media reports said on Sunday.

Several private TV channels on Friday reported that talks between the two sides have begun as PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the government have sent one representative each to President Arif Alvi, reports Dawn News.

But the talks, if any, apparently hit a snag in the early stages only as the PTI stuck to the demand of holding early elections before it sat with the government, the newspaper reported.

When contacted by Dawn, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said no formal talks have been started and denied that any representative was sent for this purpose.

If talks are being held openly or via backdoor, we have a clear stance that we will sit for talks if the government agrees to hold early elections, he told Dawn.

In that case, we can sit together to finalise the nitty-gritty of the polls, he added.

Pakistans Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the government was ready to hold unconditional talks with the PTI.