PTI Smells A Rat On 'Narrative Of Soft Intervention'.

ISLAMABAD -- The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday smelled a rat by saying that a so-called 'narrative of soft intervention' was nothing but a farce, which is allegedly being created by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) only to divert the attention from 'controversial' election of chief minister in Punjab.

Former prime minister Imran Khan's party said that it was ready to sit on the negotiation table with all the other political parties in the government to end this on-going political instability and economic crises if a specific date of next general elections would be announced by the ruling coalition, and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja tenders resignation from his post.

The opposition party ruled out the possibility of parley till resignation of CEC, and announcement of elections date.

The remarks of at least two leaders of the PTI came after some unconfirmed media reports said that the powerful circles have decided to play their role through 'soft intervention' to end the stalemate by bringing all parties on the negotiation table. The reports said that the ruling coalition and the opposition would be convinced to go into early elections to be held in October.

Former human rights minister and PTI senior vice-president PTI Dr Shireen Mazari ruled out any sort of talks until a specific date was given for the forthcoming general elections and the incumbent CEC quits.

In a statement, issued here on the reports circulating about the 'soft intervention' in Pakistani politics by powerful circles, she said that PTI expected a specific election date and resignation of CEC if the political chaos and economic freefall of the country was to be halted.

'If they want democracy in the country, they have to talk to the PTI being the biggest political force,' she added.

However, she made it clear that talks cannot be held until the date of election was given, adding, they needed solid assurance pertaining to the election commissioner's resignation and election date, as no one has faith in the current election commissioner.

'The nation is with PTI and Imran Khan, as all the characters...