Govt-opposition talks stall over call for PM's exit.

ISLAMABAD -- The second round of talks between the government and the opposition ended in a deadlock on Tuesday after the latter refused to budge on its main demand for the prime minister's resignation as the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) sit-in enters the sixth day on Wednesday (today).

Head of the government's negotiating team and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, talking to media after meeting members of the opposition's Rehbar Committee for the second consecutive day, admitted that there had been a 'deadlock' between them as both sides had stuck to their positions, but hoped that they would succeed in finding some 'middle way' as they had agreed to continue the dialogue.

'Talks are on. They (the opposition) have their own stance, we have our own position. We are trying to find a middle way between the two stances,' a dejected defence minister stated without announcing the date and time for the next meeting.

Mr Khattak said that they had faced a similar deadlock on the issue of the venue of the Azadi march, but later it was amicably resolved and the government allowed the marchers to enter Islamabad. Similarly, he hoped, they would succeed in resolving the current deadlock.

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'We are trying to find out a solution so that the honour of the opposition is not hurt and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government too feels content,' Mr Khattak said in an apparent hint that the government was looking for various options to provide a face-saving to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for announcing an end to the sit-in.

Saying that the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere, the defence minister claimed that the government had already agreed to several of the opposition's demands and that talks would continue on the remaining demands when the two sides would meet again after consulting their respective leadership.

Earlier, in his brief introductory remarks, convener of the Rehbar Committee and JUI-F leader Akram Durrani stated that the opposition was still 'sticking' to its four demands which it had formally presented to the government on Monday, adding that the 'government is trying to find some middle way'.

Mr Durrani reiterated the opposition's demands which are immediate resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, snap elections in the country, no role of the army in the electoral process and supremacy of the Constitution.

Sources said at the outset of the talks, the opposition members protested with the...

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