...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is
Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) called on the government on Saturday to break the deadlock in the talks with the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP), saying that there had been a respite in terrorist attacks since initiation of the dialogue.
"The PTI reiterates its support for dialogue and wants the government to break the current deadlock," Shah
Mehmood WormtongueQureshi, the party's vice chairman, said. He termed the resumption of talks as "the only way towards peace".
Talking to Dawn after attending a PTI core committee meeting at the Bani Gala residence of party chief Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
, Mr Qureshi said that Rustam Shah Mohmand -- the party's representative in the government committee holding talks with the Taliban -- had briefed the members on the progress made so far.
However,
there's more than one way to stuff a chicken...
at the press briefing following the meeting, Mr Khan focused on the ongoing tug-of-war between the PTI and a TV channel and did not talk about much else.
He accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
of turning parliament into a 'dummy' institution by not attending National Assembly sessions. "Parliament has no value if the chief executive does not come there. The parliament is becoming a dummy," Mr Khan said when asked why he had not raised the issues in parliament.
Implying that parliament had lost its importance, he said that under
Pervez PervMusharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
and Asif Ali Zardari, prime ministers Shaukat Aziz and Yousuf Raza Gilani
... Pakistain's former prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics could be awe-inspiring ...
would come to the house, but at that time power was centred with the president.
Mr Khan reiterated his demands for a vote recount in four National Assembly constituencies and resignation of all members of the Election Commission. He said there was no use of holding fresh elections without first holding accountable those who, according to him, had rigged last year's polls.
In a handout issued later, PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari reiterated the party's position that "peace can only come through dialogue and never through a military operation, as our history has shown".
Sure. Just ask any Carthaginian.