There are doubts over the success of the third round of government, opposition talks and it is feared they may fail prior to their start as two key figures, KP CM Sohail Afridi and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, have refused to become members of the opposition’s negotiating team, it was reported on Wednesday.
Sources told the 24News TV channel that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had invited both Afridi and Achakzai to become part of the negotiating team in view of the fact that they are important stakeholders.
But while Afridi said he was busy in the long march, Achakzai showed his unwillingness to go to the speaker’s chamber, saying he could not go to the chamber of a man who was a member of the Form-47 government. “I am ready to go if there is a third venue for talks.”
Sources disclosed that argumentation also took place between Barrister Gohar and Achakzai over the matter. But the latter did not show any flexibility and stuck to his point of view, they informed.
Meanwhile, PTI’s parliamentary party too has increased pressure on the leader of the opposition, saying he had been nominated by the former prime minister Imran Khan to lead the talks, and now he should not walk away.
On the other hand, official work in KP has come to a halt since the provincial chief minister is leading the long march and is visiting different areas of the province.
Department of Planning and Development’s meeting could not be held at the CM’s House due to Afridi’s absence.
The chief minister could not even offer the funeral prayers for martyred police and FBR officials in Dera Ismael Khan.
Similarly, several summaries are awaiting his signatures.
