ISLAMABAD Nov 20 (TNS): Talks between the government and protest leaders failed on Monday with no breakthrough in sight as the protest leaders continue to demand the resignation of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid.
The government’s team comprised Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Raja Zafarul Haq, Rana Sanaullah and Captain (retired) Safdar.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had summoned the emergency meeting after appearing before the Islamabad High Court which had ordered the government to clear the protestors by Saturday morning.
Earlier today, the interior minister, after appearing before the Islamabad High Court, had appealed to the protesters once more to end their sit-in peacefully.
Iqbal had said once more that the government wants to avoid taking action for fear of bloodshed.
He had added that the Khatam-e-Nabbuwat laws are stronger than before.
“The impression that we compromised on Khatam-e-Nabbuwat is not correct. I am hopeful that we will resolve the issue in 24-48 hours,” he said further.
On Sunday, the interior minister had said that all options are available for dispersing the Islamabad protest, adding that a security operation is the last option as the government will try to avoid bloodshed.
The court had directed the concerned authorities to clear the sit-in by 10 am on November 18, but the deadline passed without any operation by security forces. The government had conducted another round of negotiations on Saturday night, but that too ended in stalemate with the protesters refusing to budge from their primary demand of the law minister’s resignations.
