The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has suggested the Constitution Room in parliament as the venue for a possible meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai. The proposal was made on Thursday. TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain said in comments to a private news channel: “If the prime minister comes to the opposition chamber, we will take him to the Constitution Room.”
According to Hussain, the opposition wants its final negotiations held in that room, with the premier invited to visit the opposition chamber. The offer follows remarks by Rana Sanaullah, the prime minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, who urged the opposition to drop its other demands and sit down with the government to discuss counterterrorism.
Government position on the talks venue
Sanaullah had earlier rejected Achakzai‘s demand for a neutral venue, insisting that talks take place at the PM House. “Prime Minister House is not anyone’s personal property; it belongs to the state,” he had said. Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, he added that Sharif was ready to invite all stakeholders to discuss terrorism.
Opposition proposes alternative meeting locations
Hussain said negotiations should not be blocked by ego or stubbornness. He noted that Achakzai had also proposed meeting at the residence of Sanaullah or at the home of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Achakzai had invited the prime minister to his chamber for coffee, Hussain said, and the opposition was willing to visit the PM House after that meeting.
Earlier talks collapsed without agreement
Achakzai had stayed away from earlier government-opposition talks held at the National Assembly speaker’s chamber, saying he would participate only if the discussions were held at a neutral location. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) then reconstituted its delegation, but the talks failed to produce an agreement.
After the talks collapsed, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government imposed governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11. It cited the province’s deteriorating security situation and concerns over counterterrorism efforts. The PTI, founded by Imran Khan and in power in the province since 2013, has challenged the measure in the courts.
