Pakistan: Government, PTI remain 'rigid' amid whispers on 'backdoor' talks

Several private TV channels on Friday reported that talks between the two sides have begun as PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the government have sent ‘one representative each’ to President Arif Alvi, reports Dawn News.

But the talks, if any, apparently hit a snag in the early stages only as the PTI stuck to the demand of holding early elections before it sat with the government, the newspaper reported.

When contacted by Dawn, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said no formal talks have been started and denied that any representative was sent for this purpose.

“If talks are being held openly or via backdoor, we have a clear stance that we will sit for talks if the government agrees to hold early elections,” he told Dawn.

“In that case, we can sit together to finalise the nitty-gritty of the polls,” he added.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the government was ready to hold “unconditional” talks with the PTI.