Khattak briefs PM on govt-opp contacts.

ISLAMABAD -- Only a day ahead of the government's talks with the opposition's Rehbar Committee on the latter's anti-government protest march, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak Thursday took Prime Minister Imran Khan into confidence about the contacts made so far with the opposition.

The formal talks between the government's seven-member negotiation team and the Rehbar Committee would open today to discuss demands of opposition parties who have given a protest call seeking resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and fresh elections. The 'Azadi March' protest is scheduled to start on October 27 that will enter Islamabad on October 31.

Khattak, the head of the government's negotiation team, also held separate meetings with the two allies of the government, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) to take them into confidence over the negotiation process.

The minister in his telephonic conversation apprised the premier on the contacts made by his team with the opposition parties. He also took the PM into confidence on the talks being held today.

After his meeting with the GDA's MNA and Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza, the defence minister while talking to the reporters at the Parliament House said that the Rehbar Committee had put a condition that their protest march should be allowed to enter Islamabad without any disturbance and the government should not create hurdles in the way of their rallies. 'We have offered them to come and their rallies would not be stopped,' he said adding that the government had made an offer to the opposition with open heart. 'We have told the opposition that we are ready to talk to them under the constitution and in the light of courts decisions.'

Khattak, said...