KEY DEVELOPMENTS



- Joint session continues for a fourth day



- Khursheed Shah refers to Chaudhry Nisar as a wolf in the guise of a sheep



- PM Nawaz meets Maulana Fazlur Rehman before the start of joint session



- PM Nawaz says being the prime minister of Pakistan is no bed of roses



- Aitzaz Ahsan bursts out of anger as he responds to Nisar's land grabbing, LPG quota allegations



- Asif Ali Zardari condemns Nisar's statements about Aitzaz



- Nisar says if anyone tries to harm him, he will retaliate

Tear-gas and rubber bullets have been used by police, while protesters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) responded with pelting stones.The clashes came on the 14th day of sit-ins in the capital, which had thus far remained without incident, and continued for three days.Read all our coverage of PTI’s Azadi March here and the Inqilab March here Updates of the Islamabad protests from August 31, 2014 to September 2, 2014, can be found here





Terming the exchange between Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan in a press meet-up last night and the joint session of Parliament today “unfortunate,” former president Asif Ali Zardari defends the latter’s stance.



“The prime minister expressed sorrow over the exchange but some people hold a different opinion,” he says, hinting at Nisar.



Further, referring to talks between the protesting parties and the government, Zardari says: “The deadlock must end.”





The government has sent PTI a reply to their eight-page proposal to probe rigging allegations in a bid to end the political impasse between the PML-N government and protesters.The reply was endorsed by 10 parliamentary parties before being handed over to the opposition jirga to deliver it to PTI.The reply deems PTI’s rigging allegations baseless and clarifies that PM Nawaz and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif will not resign."We have already recommended the formation of a judicial commission to probe rigging allegations and submit its findings within 30 days," the reply adds.PTI's eight-page proposal can be viewed here Addressing his supporters, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri appreciates their efforts and resilience for remaining steadfast despite difficulties and harsh rains.“Not one parliamentary leader came to listen to your (supporters) demands or to help you,” says Qadri.Express News screengrab of PAT chief Dr Tahirul QadriInterior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that if anyone tries to harm him, he will retaliate and hold a press conference, Express New reports.Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique, while speaking outside the Parliament, requests PTI and PAT chiefs to end their sit-ins but continue on with their demands.He adds that the visit of a president of a third country is now being affected because of these protests, adding that if the Chinese president visits India and not Pakistan it will not be something to be proud of.Rafique says that Imran and Qadri will have to answer to the nation"Because of the sit-ins there has been a loss of Rs550 billion to the economy," he says. "Who will give this back," he questions.Former president Asif Ali Zardari has condemned Nisar’s statements about PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan and demanded an apology from the interior minister, Express News reports.He has reportedly said that he is proud of Aitzaz’s sacrifices for democracy.Unleashing a furious outburst at Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Thursday urges Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to reshuffle his cabinet once the ongoing crisis ends.Read full story here PM just started his much awaited address to the parliament."We should all vow to stand together for the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law." he urgesNawaz says the opposition and the government have decided to stick together for Pakistan."More than my government, what is dear to me is the unity between the two sides of lower house," Nawaz says."Being the prime minister is no bed of roses," he tells his lawmakers.The premier laments dignitaries cancelling their visits to Pakistan due to the current political turmoil.PM Nawaz says he is sad over the misunderstanding caused because of certain statements made by Nisar against Aitzaz and PPP in a press meetup last night.

Express News screengrab of PM addressing the joint session

"We respect the criticism of the Opposition," says PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq."The role of opposition has strengthened the parliament," adds Haq.Leader of the Opposition in NA Khursheed Shah has started to address the joint session of the Parliament."Parliament has become a wall to save democracy." says Shah"A person who modifies politics to business does not have any respect." remarks ShahShah tells the assembly that saving democracy is mistaken for supporting the government.He adds that the PM’s resignation will lead to the weakening of democracy."Do not resign," says ShahShah implicitly refers to Chaudhry Nisar as a wolf in the guise of a sheep."Interior Minister is a snake up PM Nawaz’s sleeves." Shah claims"People who bring their leaders on cross-roads cannot be faithful to leadership." continues Shah"We cautioned PM about traitors in his party." claims ShahShah believes that Chaudhry Nisar should apologise to the Parliament not just to Aitzaz Ahsan.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meets JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman one on one in Islamabad, Express News reports.They reportedly discussed the ongoing political situation and the protests being held in the federal capital by PAT and PTI.Negotiators of both the government and the protesting parties were bogged down on Thursday in a bitter stalemate after their leaders hardened their positions, squeezing out the space for further political accommodation.Read the full story here JI chief Sirajul Haq says it is welcoming to see Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the government coming on to the table for talks, Express News reports.Talks are progressing slowly but still there are several legal and constitutional issues to have to be tackled, says JI chief. He adds that, “We are trying to solve this crisis as soon as possible.”Meanwhile, PAT president Raheeq Abbasi says the protesters have vacated the parliament house lawn and the roads of Pak Secretariat will also be open for employees.Jamaat-e-Islami chief and leader of Opposition Jirga Sirajul Haq has said that they have asked PTI chief Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri to demonstrate flexibility for the sake of democracy, Radio Pakistan reported.Speaking to newsmen after the Jirga met with Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah and other parliamentary leaders in Islamabad on Thursday.Haq said there are still speed breakers and a lack of trust between the parties, but he hoped that efforts of the jirga would ultimately pay off.He said during Thursday’s meeting they held consultations on a draft response of the Government to the proposals and demands made by PTI in writing.Speaking on the occasion, Shah said that we are struggling for the supremacy of Constitution and democracy. He expressed the hope that the issue will be resolved soon.The parliamentary committee of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday reposed faith in party chief Imran Khan’s leadership and endorsed his decisions taken during the Azadi March sit-in.However, there was no official statement from the party on this development.Read the full story here PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday that Javed Hashmi is still the party’s president despite his recent spat with Imran Khan.Read the full story here PTI and PAT protesters have moved back to D-chowk, Express News reports.Police have taken control of Pakistan secretariat.An eight-page proposal has been presented by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the government’s negotiating team in a bid to end the political impasse between the PML-N government and protesters in Islamabad.The proposal, exclusively obtained by The Express Tribune, proposes a two-step process to address rigging allegations in the 2013 elections.Read here for the full story.PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri begins addressing his supporters.Censuring the speeches in the joint session of Parliament, Qadri says his supporters are “peaceful” and not “terrorists.”“Parliament needs to think about why these protesters are here,” says the PAT chief, adding, “Parliament should give me an answer as to who the murderers of those killed during the Model Town incident are.”Addressing members of Parliament, Qadri asks them to obtain a copy of the judicial tribunal’s report on the Model Town incident which holds Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif responsible.“MNAs should have stood up against this atrocity,” Qadri says, disappointed that nobody brought it up in Parliament or protested against the incident.Qadri says he is cutting short his speech due to the rain and will address his supporters again.Holding the Nawaz government responsible for the three killed during clashes between police and protesters on Saturday, Qadri demands that an FIR should be registered."Our workers will give their lives to protect the Chinese president," says Qadri, adding, that the cancellation of the Chinese president's trip is a failure on the part of the government.“When the government can’t protect its citizens, and kills them instead, how can they give security to the Chinese president?" Qadri questions."We will not go back," Qadri clarifies. "I am opening a school here, it will be called Inqilab March School," he says.Express News screengrab of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri addressing his supporters.Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit has been postponed due to security concerns in light of the current protests, Express News reports.An advance team comprising protocol and security officials of the Chinese president reached Islamabad on Wednesday to finalise the details of his tour.However, the team did not give security clearance for the president’s visit.Read here for the full story.PAT has started removing tents from Parliament grounds and pitching them on Constitution Avenue once again, Express News reports.





The opposition jirga is meeting with Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, Express News reports.



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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken parliamentary leaders into confidence to discuss the government’s reply to PTI’s demands, Express News reports.The opposition jirga will deliver the written reply to PTI in the evening today.National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has approved PTI president Javed Hashmi’s resignation from NA, Express News reports.NA speaker has forwarded his approval of Hashmi's resignation to the Election Commission of Pakistan to complete the procedure.On September 2, after addressing the joint session of Parliament, Hashmi handed his resignation to the NA speaker.Express News quoting sources reports that army chief General Raheel Sharif has met with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Rawalpindi.Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar says that PTI and PAT have agreed to vacate Parliament grounds within an hour and move to D Chowk, Express News reports."Marchers will also vacate Cabinet Division’s gate,” Nisar adds.“The government is ready to accept all other demands of PTI and PAT other than the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” says Nisar.





“We have prepared a reply to PTI’s demands,” he says, adding, “PTI will receive a written reply in the evening today.”





Not allowing to speak in this session so leaving now — Sheikh Rashid Ahmad (@ShkhRasheed) September 4, 2014

PTI chairman Imran Khan has reached the K-P House to attend a party meeting, Express News reports.PPP leader Rehman Malik says the deadlock between protesting parties and the government is nearing its end.“In three days, we will see more positive results. Both sides should compromise -- give and take,” he says, while talking to media representatives in Karachi.AML chief Sheikh Rasheed is unhappy with proceedings in Parliament today, saying on twitter:Addressing the joint session of Parliament, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal accosts PTI chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Tahirul Qadri for conducting a ‘closed-container inqilab’ all the while making a Pakistan a laughing stock internationally.Iqbal also directs his ire towards PAT and PTI’s protesting tactics and the media.“The world has seen the velvet revolution, the orange revolution but never this container revolution,” he laments. At the same time, he accuses both Imran and Qadri of putting their supporters in harm’s way, and of breaking their promises that the protests would remain peaceful.Read here for the full story.

Express News screengrab of Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal addressing the joint session.

PPP senior leader Raza Rabbani begins his address to the parliament.In a fiery address to the joint session of Parliament, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader lashed out at fellow lawmakers for not delivering to the public before shifting criticism to Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri."This is not the first time the Parliament has been under threat, this has happened before and if we think this is the final assault, then we are mistaken," he says.He added that only a united National Assembly can fight against all the conspiracies hatched against democracy in Pakistan.The complete story on Rabbani's speech can be viewed here Senator Haji Adeel, in his speech during the joint session, condemns the checkpoints set up by protesters in certain parts of the Red Zone where they are searching people, including policemen crossing the points.He calls on the government to deal with the illegal activities of the protesters.Accusing Qadri of constantly exaggerating, Adeel asks the PAT chief to provide details of his supporters, allegedly held in different parts of the country.He doesn't spare Imran during his speech either, criticising him for starting his anti-rigging protest at a time the country is fighting a war against militants.

Express News screengrab of Senator Haji Adeel addressing the joint session.

I had very long day.Dead lock between govt and IK/TUQ is over.They are now hving dialogue which will be helpful in resolving the crises — Senator Rehman Malik (@SenRehmanMalik) September 3, 2014

Both #PTI & #PAT will meet the govt committee in our presence & we're sure they will reach a solution suitable for all: @SenRehmanMalik #PPP — Pakistan Peoples Party (@PPP_Org) September 3, 2014





"Joint session of Parliament is only a drama," he adds.



At 6pm today, there will be a general workers meeting of MQM and all party leaders are expected to attend, our correspondent Rabia Ali reports.



Read



"Joint session of Parliament is only a drama," he adds.At 6pm today, there will be a general workers meeting of MQM and all party leaders are expected to attend, our correspondent Rabia Ali reports.Read here for the full story.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed told the joint session on Thursday that democracy should be made the focus of all decision making, adding that "the lack of decision making had led to the current crisis that we are in today.""Parliament needs to take initiative and take a stand for this nation."“We need to change our mindset from the Mughal mindset to the Mandela mindset,” he says, adding, "The army should be working alongside the government; it is a subordinate of the government.""We have to learn from our history, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah created our country. He had no bomb, no army, no ISI, no big money. He only had credibility, leadership and the people's support."Read the full story here A new round of negotiations between the two sides will take place at 7pm today, Express News reports.The next 48 hours are reportedly very important.During the negotiations, it was proposed that instead of a recount in four constituencies, there should be a recount in 50 constituencies, according to sources.Sources further said that the investigation into the Model Town incident will be done as per PAT’s wishes and that the Election Commission of Pakistan will be reconstituted and electoral reforms shall be introduced.The joint session of the Parliament starts for a third day, Express News reports.Both PPP leader Rehman Malik and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, members of the opposition Jirga, have been briefing PM Nawaz Sharif today, informing him of negotiations between PTI, PAT and the government committee, Express News reports.According to Haq, 70 per cent of the work has been done.Several meetings will take place over the course of the day and the government committee will be meeting with PTI again.Imran says in previous elections, he did not have time, but in next elections, he will personally interview potential PTI ticket holders.Imran Khan defends PTI's protest, claiming that it is not they who have closed schools or blocked roads.Addressing his supporters, PTI chief Imran Khan says, “Let me tell you what you have achieved so far. People who were not ready to talk, are now ready to not only listen to our demands but also to set up an independent judicial commission.”The only unaccepted demand remains the prime minister’s resignation, says Imran.If we had not come on to the streets, then the next election would have been far more fraudulent, adds PTI chief.Addressing the media after a meeting between PAT, government and opposition parties’ ‘Jirga, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says, “During the meeting we have agreed to continue talks and resolve matter through dialogue.”We have also decided not to comment on any development until we reach a decision, as it might affect the dialogue process, says Iqbal.PAT President Raheeq Abbasi says earlier multiple rounds of talks were held with the government but all ended as a result of deadlock.PAT has always said we are always ready for meaningful talks, says Abbasi.We are very thankful to ‘Jirga’ for their efforts to end deadlock dead lock between government and PAT, says PAT president.Next round on Thursday 8pm, says Iqbal.Talking to media outside the Jahangir Tareen’s residence, PTI leaders Asad Umar and Arif Alvi say nothing concrete happened today, but we are hopeful to get positive outcome of talks on Thursday,reports.“The registration of the FIR of the Model Town incident against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the first victory of the Revolution March,” Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM) Deputy Secretary General Allama Syed Shafqat Hussain Sheerazi said on Wednesday.He demanded the registration of an FIR for the Red Zone martyrs on the complaint of their aggrieved heirs.The foreign office on Wednesday said the visit of the Chinese president would take place according to schedule, dismissing reports that the crucial trip might be cancelled due to political upheaval in the country.Foreign office sources said that a team of protocol and security officials of the Chinese president had reached Pakistan on Wednesday to finalize the details of the visit.Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique in a television programme on Express News says that the army, deployed at the Parliament under Article 245, had asked the protesters to vacate the grounds of the Parliament, contrary to claims made by Sheikh Rasheed."What non-democratic action have we taken?" Imran Khan asks his supporters, in response to the comments made by several lawmakers in the National Assembly earlier today.The PTI chief adds, "We see the split between the real PTI supporters and those who came to ride the tsunami.""If Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif or any chief minister gives you wrong orders, don't listen to them!" Imran tells policemen, adding that the prime minister is trying to malign the armed forces."We will not create any obstacles and will welcome the Chinese president," Imran Khan says.Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Pervaiz Khattak and Shafqat Mahmood of the PTI negotiation committee have arrived at Jehangir Tareen's residence. The government committee has yet to arrive.As PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri begins to address his rally, he is joined by AML chief Sheikh Rasheed.EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB OF PAT CHIEF TAHIRUL QADRI AND AML CHIEF SHEIKH RASHEEDQadri blames the attack on PTV's headquarters on the government itself. "They trained Gullu Butts to enter the building!"Qadri has harsh words for Khursheed Shah. “Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah is speaking out against PAT because he is as corrupt as the Sharif brothers,” Qadri says, saying he does not extend his criticism to the PPP itself.He issues a stern warning to Khursheed Shah: "Shah sahib, stop talking or this matter will have far-reaching effects."Qadri warns Zardari to 'handle' Khursheed Shah."Dont you dare call our party non-democratic," Qadri tells Shah, referring to Shah's statements in the joint session of parliament today."If you don't see a sea of hundreds of thousands of people in three days, I will end the protests," Qadri tells his supporters.Qadri questions why those mentioned in the FIR in the Model Town incident haven’t been arrested as yet. “Their names should be placed on the ECL,” he says.Qadri demands the government to release of his supporters who are currently incarcerated.Qadri asks supporters to send LEGOs for kids at the protest, and bats and balls "for Imran Khan to teach children how to play cricket," he says.Crowds chant: “We are here, you (PM Nawaz) must go.”“A judicial commission has given a report in which it holds Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif responsible for the blood bath on June 17,” he says, adding, “Shahbaz is hiding that report.”Addressing MNAs, Qadri asks them to demand the judicial report to be released, and given to them.Qadri categorically denies that his workers attacked parliament. "People were hiding in the parliament lawns fearing the tear gas. They didn't touch the building, or even the parking lot."Qadri holds up pictures of Nawaz Sharif allegedly attacking the Supreme Court. "This is the real face of Nawaz Sharif," he says.He also shows a picture of Nawaz Sharif and his supporters allegedly attacking parliament.Qadri asks his supporters to vacate Parliament House lawns and move outside the Parliament gate.Read the full story here MQM general workers meeting has been postponed till 6pm tomorrow, our correspondent Rabia Ali reports.Talk between PTI leaders and a political jirga, including opposition leaders has ended. The jirga will now meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Express News reports.Addressing the media, after the meeting, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi says PTI will meet the government’s negotiating team at 8pm today.Further, JI chief Sirajul Haq says there are some “speed-breakers” but the meeting has yielded positive results.PPP leader Rehman Malik says that he has requested the prime minster to ask his team to not antagonise anybody.“I have asked both PAT and PTI to vacate Parliament grounds,” Malik adds.Qureshi addresses Rehman's request and says: “No PTI worker is currently on Parliament grounds. If there is we request them to move,” adding, “We request PAT to ask their workers to vacate the grounds as well.”Addressing the media, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal responding to PTI chairman Imran Khan’s rigging allegations, questions Imran how he can end corruption in Pakistan when he can’t control corruption in his own party.“He (Imran) couldn’t give party tickets on merit,” says Iqbal.“Imran Khan failed to provide evidence of rigging,” he adds.Further, Iqbal asks Imran to end his sit-in.Read the full story here Express News screengrab of Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.PPP has summoned a meeting of parliamentary leaders at 7:30pm today. Former president Asif Ali Zardari will chair the meeting.PTI chairman Imran Khan reaches sit-in from Bani Gala and has summoned a meeting of PTI MNAs in his container.PTI's meeting with the political jirga is underway, Express News reports.Addressing the media after a meeting with the political jirga, PAT leader Raheeq Abbasi says they have presented their demands to the jirga.“Our demand for the resignation of the prime minister and Punjab chief minister still stands,” he says, adding, “We have also asked for the formation of a new judicial commission to probe into the Model Town incident.”“Rigging in elections and the formation of a new election commission were also discussed,” he says.Abbasi adds that tonight at 10pm, in the presence of the political jirga, PAT will meet with the government’s negotiating team.JI chief Sirajul Haq says the jirga has successfully ended the deadlock in talks between the government and PAT.Further, PPP leader Rehman Malik thanks Imran and Qadri for agreeing to meet with them."We have requested PAT to vacate Parliament grounds," says Rehman.Express News screengrab of PAT leader Raheeq Abbasi with the politcal jirga.The joint session of Parliament is adjourned till tomorrow.Addressing the joint session, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah says, “Parliament has won today.”“We had earlier asked the government to allow PTI to protest as it is a political party but PAT has a different agenda,” he adds.“Those with patience in politics always win; Parliament passed resolution for PM to remain steadfast and see they [PTI] came back.”“I am thankful to the PM and government for calling joint session of Parliament, and we can see the results today, on the second day.”"Speaker's decision to allow Shah Mehmood Qureshi to speak was in accordance with the Constitution," he adds.“Conspiracies are being hatched even today,” Shah says, adding, “I heard a party leader asked for resignations as Parliament is of ‘no use'.”“Politics is the name of patience and moving forward, PM Nawaz Sharif has come out as a better prime minister.”Express News screengrab of Leader of the Opposition in the National assembly Khursheed Shah addressing the joint session.Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, addressing the joint session, says it is yet to be confirmed if all PTI lawmakers have tendered their resignations or not.“Unity of Parliament will not be affected come what may,” he adds.Addressing Fazl’s question whether PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi should be allowed to address Parliament, NA speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq says till resignations are processed, PTI members are allowed to enter the house.Express News screengrab of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.MQM chief Altaf Hussain has directed MQM parliamentarians to submit their resignations to Deputy Convener Nadeem Nusrat, Express News reports.There are 24 MQM MNAs and 7 Senators in Parliament."I give all assemblies one week to improve their functioning, says MQM chief.Addressing the joint session, Awami National Party Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash says PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi made “baseless allegations” on the floor of the House.“Nawaz Sharif is the elected prime minister,” he says.Moments after PTI lawmakers left, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has returned to Parliament, having left after PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi started his address.Express News screengrab of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif entering Parliament again.Addressing the joint session, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai says there should not be any talks with PTI chairman Imran Khan until the PTI signs a resolution to vacate the Red Zone"The FIR registered in the Model Town incident should be conditional," he adds.Following up on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s announcement yesterday, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi defends his party’s actions during the protests, saying, “We are protesting to save Parliament, not to destroy it.”“The PTI never was and never will be part of a grand plan that will undermine democracy,” Qureshi clarifies, evidently in response to Hashmi’s claim that the protests were ‘scripted’.It must be noted, Qureshi was conspicuously silent over the status of his and other PTI lawmakers’ resignations in his speech.Read here for the full story.Express News screengrab of PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi addressing the joint session."If I have to sit around and wait for a year for their resignations, I will wait," says PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri while addressing his supporters, referring to his demand for the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister's resignations."They can try to negotiate all they want, but I won't change my stance," says QadriPakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Rehman Malik, speaks outside the Parliament today.Following his last meeting at 5pm yesterday with PTI chief Imran Khan, he confirms that the deadlock is now over.He went on to announce that “very soon the nation will receive some very good news”.Through his address he made an appeal to Altaf Hussain - who earlier today announced that he wanted to be relieved of his responsibilities in MQM- to withdraw this decision immediately.He pleaded to Hussain directly, “for the sake of our friendship you must withdraw your decision to leave your party.”Malik made a further appeal to the government, requesting that all those who are arrested and are innocent should be released. “All those who have been hurt and injured should be given compensation” he adds.Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, while addressing his fellow parliamentarians, says the protesters are only complaining about election rigging and not other problems faced by the country.He alleged that Qadri and Imran had been working together all along and have only revealed their partnership recently.Hitting out at PTI lawmakers attending today’s session, the QWP leader asked the speaker of the house if their entry into the parliament should be considered an assault since they were protesting against it for the last few weeks.During the second day of the joint session of Parliament, Acting President of Nationalist Party Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo criticises the long marches held by PTI and PAT and claims that “this was not how politics is done”.He went on to condemn the two groups and says that both have abused political parties.Read here for the full story.Today’s joint session was opened by Information Secretary of the Awami National Party Zahid Khan, in which he states that there is a conspiracy against the 18th amendment.He argues that bureaucracy has destroyed this nation and without democracy a nation cannot be governed.“We have made a joke out of this country” he said.Further, he says “how do we have the audacity to point our finger onto others, when we ourselves cannot handle our own nation?”Khan went on to commend PTI leader Javed Hashmi in his statements made yesterday.“In order for Pakistan to remain strong, the constitution must be saved,” he adds.He referred to the Model Town tragedy and questioned why nobody is fighting for those who died in the May 12 incident in Karachi.“There are those who are shedding crocodile tears for the 14 deaths in the Model Town tragedy, what about the ones who died on May 12 in Karachi? Were they not human? Were they not Muslims and Pakistanis? Why is nobody doing anything for them?”Joint session of Parliament has started.Protesters have set up their own checkpoints in front of the Pak Secretariat, Express News reports.They are reportedly also checking policemen.

Express News screengrab of protesters checking policemen

PAT workers stop government employees from reaching Pak Secretariat, Express News reports."For the continuation of democracy we agreed that talks should continue and tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4pm, the negotiation committees will meet at Rehman Malik’s place," says PTI’s negotiation team leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Express News reports.The PTI team consists of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Arif Alvi, Jahangir Tareen, Pervaiz Khattak, Shafqat Mahmood and Asad Umar.We presented our point of view, and they patiently listened to it, says Qureshi.Talking to media after the meeting between the opposition's political jirga and PTI's negotiation team, JI chief Sirajul Haq says that the ‘Jirga’, composed of opposition parties, met PTI chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, and the stalled negotiations have now resumed.“We will continue talks till we reach a consensus,” says Haq.“I do not want to comment on the violence that broke out during last few days but I appeal to both government and protesting parties to give negotiations and talks a chance,” the JI chief says."If the PTI and PAT have decided to resume talks today, it does not mean they are weak or have backed off," cautioned PPP Senator Rehman Malik."We appeal, that as a matter of courtesy and to improve the environment, all the PAT and PTI workers detained across the country and the 150 missing protesters who have been arrested, should be released. Further, the cases against the workers and the negotiation committee should be withdrawn."“The way PTI and PAT have cooperated, we see room for good results from talks”, says Malik.PTI chairman Imran Khan asks all his elected party officials and office bearers to gather at their protest in Islamabad, Express News reports.All those who want to take part in local body elections from PTI’s platform should also ensure their presence here, says Imran Khan.