Opposition, govt clinch agreement on march venue.

Byline: Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD -- Showing political maturity, the government and the opposition on Saturday reached an understanding on the venue of the culmination point of the Azadi march, but the latter is keeping its cards close to its chest over the duration and mode of the protest.

The opposition, which had earlier refused the government's offer to hold its public meeting at Shakarparian Parade Ground instead of the sensitive D-Chowk, finally agreed to hold its public meeting at a huge ground adjacent to weekly bazaar in H-9 sector and near famous Peshawar Morr. The new venue is along Kashmir Highway, a major artery connecting the capital city with the new airport, GT Road and the motorways to Lahore and Peshawar.

The seven-point agreement has been signed by Islamabad's deputy commissioner and secretary general of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl's Islamabad chapter Mufti Mohammad Abdullah.

The announcement regarding the agreement was first made by the JUI-F leader and convener of the opposition's Rehbar committee Akram Durrani at a news conference at his native Bannu and later by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak who headed the seven-member government team of negotiators.

Mr Durrani said participants of the anti-government protest march 'will not enter the Red Zone' of Islamabad, saying that all the 11 Rehbar committee members were in agreement over it.

Khattak claims Rehbar committee did not call for PM's resignation or fresh polls; Islamabad administration, JUI-F sign accord

The convener said the march would be held 'on a road' and it wouldn't be 'prolonged'. He reiterated the opposition's demands including Prime Minister Imran Khan's resignation, fresh elections with no interference from the military and the protection of clauses pertaining to Islam in the Constitution.

Later, Mr Khattak briefing reporters about details of the agreement said Islamabad's local administration and a JUI-F representative had signed a written agreement.

Flanked by Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, former finance minister Asad Umar, two other members of the government team, Mr Khattak claimed that the opposition had assured them that they would remain peaceful and would not advance towards the Red Zone.

'There is good news. An agreement has been signed with the opposition. We have made them agree that they will not come to D-Chowk or Blue Area (Islamabad's commercial area) and they will remain confined to the area that we will allocate for...