Azadi March: Imran meets govt negotiating team

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday met the government negotiating team led by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak to discuss the next course of action regarding the JUI-F's 'Azadi March'.

The meeting comes ahead of the second round of talks between the government's team and the Rehbar Committee which comprises representatives of the opposition parties, Geo News reported.

Khattak and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi briefed the premier over their talks with the Rehbar Committee, reports The Express Tribune.

Elahi also updated Khan on his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who spearheaded the March to topple the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

On Monday, two different negotiating teams of the government reached out to the JUI-F to break an impasse in the wake of the 'Azadi March'.

The first delegation, led by Khattak, met the Rehbar Committee at Rehman's residence in Islamabad.

In the meeting, the Rehbar Committee presented the opposition's four demands, including Khan's resignation and fresh elections in the country without the supervision of the military, while the government demanded the committee to end the sit-in.

But neither side signalled signs of conceding any ground.

Hours after the meeting, the second government delegation, led by former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, also met the JUI-F chief to discuss their demands.

According to officials, at least 2 to 2.5 million people were attending the anti-government sit-in since the March reached Islamabad on October 31.