LAHORE (Dunya News) - The fifth round of talks between the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the government concluded on Saturday without an agreement, as the religious-political party rejected a government request to postpone its planned long march on security concerns.
The government delegation included Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The JI delegation comprised Deputy Ameer Liaquat Baloch, Acting Secretary General Nazir Ahmed Janjua, Special Assistant Umair Idrees, Lahore Ameer Ziauddin Ansari and Information Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Turabi.
During the meeting, government representatives urged the JI to defer the long march, citing security threats.
Liaquat Baloch, however, said the JI would continue its protest until the levy was abolished. He called on the government to take practical steps to address public demands, warning that protests and long marches would continue otherwise.
The government delegation assured the JI that extraordinary relief would soon be provided to the public. Officials also cited pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), saying an IMF delegation was expected to arrive in Pakistan soon.
According to the JI's announced programme, the long march, led by the party's emir, is scheduled to begin from Karachi today.