PM's go-ahead to march paves way for talks.

Byline: Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD -- With Islamabad gearing up to tackle JUI-F's 'Azadi March', Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement on Wednesday that the marchers would be allowed to proceed with their protest was no less than a breakthrough as the opposition agreed to hold talks with the government's negotiating team.

Terming the government's announcement welcoming, a senior opposition leader confirmed to Dawn that Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and acting President Sadiq Sanjrani had contacted the opposition's Rehbar Committee, seeking an appointment for a meeting which was expected to take place here on Friday (tomorrow).

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl has already convened a meeting of its Central Shura in Sukkur on Wednesday (today) to discuss the new situation after the government's decision to give them a go-ahead for the march.

'It has been decided that the government with its firm belief in upholding democratic ideals will allow the proposed Azadi March if it takes place within the ambit of law and the Constitution as interpreted in the decisions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Islamabad High Court,' said a brief official handout issued by the Prime Minister Office after a meeting of PM Khan with the seven-member government team constituted by him to engage the JUI-F and other opposition parties ahead of their anti-government long march to Islamabad on Oct 31.

Opposition welcomes announcement; JUI-F convenes Shura meeting today

On Monday, after a meeting of the Rehbar Committee, JUI-F leader Akram Durrani had stated that the option of negotiations with the government was subject to the party being permitted to take out a peaceful 'Azadi March'.

Hours after his meeting with the members of the government negotiating team, PM Khan interacted with TV anchorpersons during which he categorically rejected the opposition's demand of stepping down. 'I am a constitutionally elected prime minister and I will not resign,' the prime minister said, adding: 'I am unable to comprehend their (opposition's) insistence on minus-Imran [formula].'

Mr Khan observed that apparently it seemed that some 'foreign hands' were behind the planned sit-in of the JUI-F. However, he said he was ready to hear the 'legitimate demands' of Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He said he had empowered the negotiating team to hold talks with the opposition parties.

In response to a question about the recent ban on media coverage of the JUI-F chief, the prime minister said there...