‘NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH TERRORISTS’: SHARIF CONFIDANT REJECTS PTI DIALOGUE

Islamabad Staff Report

EXPRESSINGhis disapproval of the ongoing talks between the government and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, a prominent member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) declared that negotiations should never be held with individuals or groups who are “affiliated with terrorism” and aim to “dismantle national institutions.”

The statement from Javed Latif, a close ally of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, comes at a crucial time when the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition and the opposition party of former prime minister Imran Khan are holding a formal dialogue to break the months-long deadlock over the timing of elections in the country.

Talks between the two, facilitated by the Supreme Court, began Thursday and have been seen as a breakthrough in the months-long deadlock on elections.

Presenting its demands during successive sessions, PTI has called for the speedy dissolution of all parliaments and elections no later than August. The party also said that the delay to the election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be granted legal cover through a constitutional amendment and sought the return of its resigned MPs to the National Assembly to achieve this.

In the second round, the government presented its own proposals, reportedly to conduct polls in September to allow for the presentation of the upcoming fiscal year’s budget in June.

The second round concluded on Friday with both sides agreeing to consult with their respective leaderships before reconvening for a final session on Tuesday.

Addressing party workers and sup- porters on Saturday night, Khan said his party was willing to discuss the election date only after the dissolution of the National Assembly before May 14. This deadline is in accordance with the April 4 order of the Supreme Court regarding elections in Punjab. Latif questioned the rationality of holding talks with those who he accused of referring to the government as “Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq” — two 18th-century Indian courtiers infamous for betray- ing Muslim rulers of the subcontinent to British imperialists. He further alleged that negotiations with terrorists and those who are benefiting from global powers could not be conducted. The PML-N leader also criticised those who are causing unrest in the country during a time when the economy is improving without the aid of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Latif argued that conducting such talks would put Pakistan’s security and growth at risk.

Latif urged individuals in positions of power, an oblique reference to the military, to take responsibility for their “actions, which have led to the emergence of leaders like Khan,” and for the “consequences that follow.” He warned that if the trend continues, the future of Pakistan would remain uncertain.

Latif also said the PML-N party would not allow the upcoming elections to be held without the participation of its leader, Nawaz Sharif. He added that Khan could be challenged in the political field only after justice has been served.

Khawaja Asif declares elections after Sept as Imran's nightmare

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said that an election after September was Imran's nightmare because he wanted an early election.

He said that Imran has still a hope that someone might expedite elections for him once again.

Talking to a private news channel, he said that the election should take place at its scheduled time in October 2023, neither earlier nor later.

Answering about Imran’s popularity, he claimed that

Imran Khan's popularity was limited to social media, as

High food prices continue to plague KP residents after Ramzan

Residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are voicing their frustration with the local district administration’s inability in controlling food prices that have failed to reduce even after Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr have ended. As traders are pricing goods at their discretion, citizens have no choice but to continue paying inflated prices for essential commodities, such as chicken, meat, vegetables, and fruits.

Reports say that a committee with the task of determining chicken rates was formed, however, it has failed to convene its meetings for months, which has left chicken sellers to their own volition to set desired prices. This has resulted in the price of live chicken skyrocketing to Rs425 per kilogram, up from Rs. 395 per kilogram the previous day.

Moreover, vegetable prices are also experiencing high volatility, making it challenging for consumers to plan and budget purchases. Lack of proper check and balance by the district administration and the resulting high rates have made fruits to be increasingly inaccessible to citizens, as well.

Despite the mounting prices of basic commodities, district administration officials have failed to take any action or leave their offices to assess the situation. This lack of oversight has left local residents at the mercy of the profiteering mafia.

Amidst this uncontrolled food inflation, while KP residents continue to struggle with high food prices, many are calling on the district administration to take immediate action to regulate these prices and protect the interests of citizens.

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Govt, PTI to hold final round of talks on elections today

evidenced by the low turnout in their today’s rallies on Labor Day. Furthermore, Asif accused PTI of collecting money under the guise of election tickets. “Imran Khan is an opportunist and a shrewd bargainer”, he added. He also remarked that In terms of negotiations with PTI, he believed that it was pointless to negotiate with a person who lacked credibility, as Imran Khan was prone to making decisions but then reversing them due to his indecisive mindset.

As for the demand for elections within 90 days, Asif questioned why this requirement applied solely to Punjab Province?