PM's resignation, new polls are 'off the table'.

Byline: Imran Mukhtar

ISLAMABAD -- The government on Saturday refused to cave in to opposition's demands of Prime Minister Imran Khan's resignation and re-elections as JUI-F led protest in Islamabad sit-in entered its third day.

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took this decision in a meeting of its core committee - the highest-level decision making forum of the party - which met under the chair of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

'We will not talk on PM's resignation and no one should think of it,' Defence Minister Pervez Khattak told reporters about meeting's decisions.

The defence minister was talking along with other senior party leaders and members of government's negotiation team, which was formed to talks with the opposition parties.

Khattak, who heads the negotiation team, said that PTI core committee also decided to approach the court over Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's remarks, which he made in his address to protest marchers.

'They are instigating the people and want mutiny. We are preparing the case and will file it on Monday,' he said.

Fazl on Friday had given two days ultimatum to the prime minister to resign while questioning the 'legitimacy' of his government. Otherwise, he warned, the protesters have the capability to enter PM House and 'arrest' him.

Khattak and other members of his team said that the government feared that JUI-F led protesters would move towards the capital's high security red zone after the expiry of the ultimatum on Sunday evening.

'Action will be taken if they violated the agreement already signed between the government and JUI-F leadership,' he added.

Backed by other opposition parties, the orange-turbaned JUI-F chief who was once an anti-American firebrand is leading this protest 'Azadi March' seeking resignation of PM and fresh elections.

The main convoy of the marchers led by Fazl had set off from Karachi on October 27 and camped on Kashmir Highway of Islamabad, a few kilometres away from red zone, on Thursday.

The defence minister said that the government was ready to talk with opposition's negotiation team, named Rehbar Committer, on issues like inflation and economy but the demand of PM's resignation was off the table.

'They have no demands (in hand) except the resignation demand,' he said, adding that this means that 30,000 to 40,000 people could march on Islamabad and send an elected government packing forcefully.

'Then democracy cannot work in this country and...

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