PPP leader Sherry Rehman has said the government addressed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s concerns during negotiations with the opposition but expressed disappointment over what she described as repeated changes to the proposed agreement.
Speaking to the media alongside Rana Sanaullah, Rehman, who was part of the government’s negotiating team, said the draft agreement was amended four times after understandings had been reached.
She claimed that PTI representatives had agreed to proposed terms at several stages of the negotiations but subsequently declined to proceed with them.
Rehman said the government had made extensive efforts over the past two days to avoid further political confrontation and had sought to address PTI’s concerns through dialogue and Parliament.
However, she said the government could not compromise on issues connected to the country’s security situation, stressing the need to prevent further unrest.
According to Rehman, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement over PTI’s proposed long march, while differences also remained over counterterrorism measures and coordination between the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments.
She maintained that understandings had been reached with PTI more than once during the negotiations, but the opposition party later withdrew its consent.
Referring to remarks by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Rehman said the government remained hopeful that the planned protest would not go ahead and that efforts to resolve the political differences through dialogue would continue.