Pakistan Govt forms panel to hold talks with tough cleric

The Pakistan government formed a four-member committee on Thursday to hold talks with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri shortly after he announced a fresh deadline for action on his demands for the government to resign and to dissolve the national and provincial assemblies.

The committee includes religious affairs minister Khurshid Shah, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain' senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar and Awami National Party leader Afrasiyab Khattak.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf directed the committee to "immediately hold talks" with Qadri, who has been camping near parliament since Tuesday with thousands of supporters to push his demand for electoral reforms.

The committee was formed shortly after Qadri gave the government a 90-minute deadline at 1.30pm to act on his demands.

However, support for Qadri's protest has begun to dwindle and opposition parties led by the PML-N said they would oppose any unconstitutional or unlawful move to derail the democratic system.

- Asian Tribune -