国际英语新闻:Pakistan gov't, opposition resume talks to discuss end to protests

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 5(Xinhua) -- An opposition party, which has staged anti-government sit-ins in Islamabad and demands resignation of Prime Minister(PM) Nawaz Sharif, held talks with a government team on Friday to defuse the political tensions.

Supporters of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party(PTI) started the protest on August 14 to press for the PM resignation as it claimed last year's parliamentary elections were rigged, in which Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) party won.

The government rejected calls for resignation of the PM but agreed to investigate the alleged rigging in the polls.

The dialogue had earlier faced a deadlock over the demand for the resignation of the PM. However the talks were resumed after a delegation of other opposition parties mediated between the two sides.

A government team led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar met senior PTI leaders and discussed the opposition party's demands.

"There has been tangible progress in talks between the government and PTI negotiating teams," Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi told press after the meeting. They said both sides proactively discussed the drafts exchanged by the two sides for resolution of the political crisis.

Ishaq Dar said PTI had given a written proposal and the PML-N gave its response yesterday. "Today our talks were focused on these drafts and they are trying to forge consensus."

He said the two sides would meet again on Saturday and expressed the hope to conclude the dialogue process at the earliest opportunity.

He said the country has suffered huge economic and diplomatic losses. Important visits by foreign dignitaries could not materialize due to protests. He said Moody's, a rating agency, has said that Pakistan's rating could go down if political instability persists.

Both sides have already held several rounds of talks, but the process could not make any progress due to the demand for the PM's resignation. PTI had later suggested Nawaz Sharif should transfer power to other leaders of his party for 30 days until investigations into the elections are completed.

A religious leader, Dr. Tahir ul Qadri, is also leading a protest sit-in in Islamabad against the government and wants to bring out a "revolution."

He had also suspended talks with the government this week and has not yet decided to end the deadlock.

The protests have disrupted life in Islamabad and affected the economic situation in the country. The rupee has depreciated against the dollar since the protest started.