Imran, Qadri end talks with government

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri Saturday announced an end to negotiations with the government.

This announcement came after nearly 300 PTI and PAT protesters were arrested from across Islamabad Friday, Dawn online reported.

"I suggest to halt the ongoing dialogue with the government," Imran Khan said.

"We have suspended the talks as the government has begun arresting my workers in Islamabad and around the country," Qadri said at his sit-in in Islamabad.

The PAT chief said that his personal bodyguards had also been arrested.

Imran Khan said the government was behind the arrests of PTI supporters and requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take action in this regard.

He also said the government was trying to stop PTI supporters by putting up road blocks on the roads of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

"The government is trying to instil fear among the participants of the sit-in by using terrorists (as the bogeyman). But I don't feel any threat from terrorists, only from Nawaz Sharif," Imran Khan added.

Meanwhile, PTI General Secretary Jehangir Khan Tareen has said that under the prevailing circumstances, it was not possible for the party to keep talking to the government.

According to Tareen, the party has handed its final set of demands to the government.

The protests led by Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri began Aug 15 in an attempt to overthrow Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom they have accused of rigging the 2013 general elections.