State Information Minister Tariq Azim has said of the Monday nightÂ’s talk between the government and the Lal Masjid Mullahs that despite the government was ready to accommodate most of the clericÂ’s demands, Ghazi Abdul Rashid kept on changing his stance leaving the government with the only option to assault.He said that after the last negotiations failed and the government left addressing the press conference, Ghazi agreed to release few students as a goodwill gesture but the operation had started by then.
“Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain asked Ghazi to release at least 30 to 40 students to show good intention so that he could request the president and the prime minister that negotiations be given more time. Ghazi first agreed to release only two students. Chaudhry Wajhat, the younger brother of Shujaat, asked Ghazi to release just 10 to 12 students, but Ghazi kept stubborn to his stance. Later, after the press conference when the negotiating team reached the Embassy road turn, Ghazi rang them and said he was agreed to release 10 to 12 students. But the operation had started and it was too late,” Azim added.
He rejected the clericsÂ’ claim that an agreement reached during the negotiations, and said there were only some proposals discussed and an amended draft of the proposals was made which was not accepted by the clerics.