The PTI finally submitted its “letter of demands” to the government in writing on Thursday, as the third round of negotiations between the two began.
Talks between the government and the PTI began in the last week of December to lower the political temperature, but despite weeks of negotiations, the dialogue process has made little progress on important issues: the formation of a judicial commission and the release of the PTI prisoners.
Today’s meeting began under the supervision of the Speaker of the National Assembly and was attended by six people, including three leaders of the opposition PTI, while eight represented the government.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI MP Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council Chief Hamid Raza, Majlis Senior Senator Wahdat-i -Muslimeen, Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, and PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja. They attended from the opposition.
Meanwhile, government representatives included Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP MPs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar, the Prime Minister’s Political Assistant. , Rana Sanaullah, and Dr Farooq Sattar of the MQM-P.
Ijazul Haq of PML-Z and Nawabzada Khalid Hussain Magsi of Balochistan Awami Party were also present as part of the governing committee.
During the meeting, the PTI formally submitted its demands in writing. The three-page document, a copy of which is available with dawn.comwas signed by the six opposition members who attended today’s meeting.
According to a joint press release issued later, the government committee would present its formal position on the opposition’s demands within seven working days.
The date of the next meeting will be decided after consulting both committees, the statement said.
The opposition presented two main demands: (i) the formation of two judicial commissions and (ii) the “support” of the federal and provincial governments in matters of bail, suspension of sentences and acquittals of the “political prisoners” identified by the PTI.
The letter stated that the demands were presented as a “prerequisite for broader negotiations regarding the restoration of the Constitution, the rule of law and respect for the mandate of the people, and free and fair elections.”
The opposition called on the government to “establish two commissions of inquiry in terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017”, demanding that they be composed of the Chief Justice of Pakistan or three acting judges of the Supreme Court, mutually nominated by the PTI and the government. within seven days.
“The conduct of the proceedings of the two commissions must be open to the general public as well as the media,” he added.
“The creation of the two commissions identified in this letter is a necessary indication of the seriousness of the intentions,” the opposition stressed.
“We will not be able to continue negotiations if the two commissions we seek are not agreed in principle and are not immediately constituted,” the letter concludes.
Apart from the commissions, the PTI also asked the federal government, as well as the governments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, to “support, in accordance with law, the granting of bail or suspension orders on the conviction and sentence of all political prisoners”. ” arrested pursuant to “one or more FIRs registered in respect of any event on May 9, 2023 or any event on November 24-27, 2024 or any other political event anywhere.”
He stated that the prisoners, who will be identified by the party, would include those “convicted and whose appeals or reviews are currently pending before a court of law.”
In recent weeks, the PML-N-led coalition and PTI have accused each other of derailing negotiations and lacking seriousness. A much-demanded meeting of the PTI team with party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on January 12 paved the way for a third round of talks.
However, tempers have flared again in recent days as government and opposition lawmakers attacked each other in the National Assembly and Senate.
NA president calls for committees on economy and counterterrorism
Addressing today’s meeting, National Assembly Speaker Sadiq said he presented his two “demands” to both sides that the issues of economy and terrorism be addressed as if they were public issues.
“I asked them for the entire country to also be united in a charter of economy and [the issue of] terrorism, and that some committees should also be formed on these,” Sadiq said.
He stated that the talks were going in the “right direction”, noting that “almost all” members of the two committees participated in today’s session and tried to find the best way forward.
The National Assembly speaker said the opposition requested another meeting with the imprisoned PTI founder, and the government assured him that it would “try to clear the way for him.”
He said both sides were trying to engage in talks with “grace and goodwill.” The speaker of the National Assembly also stated that he was ready to resign from his position as coordinator of the committee if anyone had any objection to it.
“Some statements gave the impression that I am not playing my role properly,” Sadiq said, adding that this is not the case.
Commission on the May 9 riots
In its demands, the PTI asked that the first commission be tasked with carrying out an in-depth investigation into various aspects, including the “legality of the events that led” to Imran’s arrest on May 9, 2023.
He further requested an investigation into the “legality of the manner of arrest and those responsible for the raid of the Islamabad High Court premises by the rangers and the police.”
Referring to the violent nationwide protests that occurred on May 9 last year, he called for an investigation into “developments across the country after Imran’s arrest” as well.
The PTI specifically called for an investigation into the “circumstances under which groups of people were able to reach several high-security locations where property damage is said to have been caused.” It called for an “examination of CCTV footage at each location where protesters are said to have caused damage.”
Additionally, the party said that if CCTV footage “is not available, the causes of this unavailability will also be investigated.”
The PTI demanded that “the manner in which those detained in connection with the events of May 9 were detained and then kept in custody, as well as the circumstances of their release,” should also be examined. “Were these people’s human rights violated, including through torture? How were the lists of detainees drawn up? asked.
“Were multiple FIRs (first information reports) registered against the same individual in respect of May 9, 2023 and sequential arrests made in abuse of process of law?” the party further asked.
It also called for a review of “cases of media censorship and information restrictions related to the incident, including harassment of journalists.”
Bringing recurring Internet outages into the discussion, the PTI demanded that “the effects and legality of the government’s imposition of Internet shutdowns and their impact before, during and after the riots” be examined and that will establish responsibility in this regard.
Since Imran’s imprisonment on August 5, 2023 due to several cases, his party’s relationship with the government, as well as the establishment, has become extremely bitter. The PTI has held several protests over the past year, most of which descended into violence after facing state repression.
Commission for the repression of November 26
Seeking formation of a separate commission into its November ‘Final Call’ protest in Islamabad, the PTI has called for another in-depth probe into the events of November 24-27.
After the power show, tensions rose as there were fresh calls to ban the party and task forces formed against an alleged “malicious campaign”, while the PTI claimed responsibility for a dozen deaths of its supporters, which the government officially denies.
However, after Imran formed a five-member committee to hold talks with “anyone” and his lawmakers softened their stance in parliament, the government constituted its own committee comprising members of the ruling coalition.
“Was there live ammunition shooting and other forms of physical aggression against protesters in Islamabad? If so, who ordered the use of live ammunition and other violent actions against protesters? To what extent was the use of force excessive? If so, who was responsible for the excessive use of force?” asked the PTI.
He also asked for the “number of martyrs and wounded and missing persons after November 24 to 27, 2024.”
The opposition demanded that the “status of security camera footage at various hospitals and medical facilities in Islamabad” during those four days be examined and determined.
“Were hospital and other medical facility records altered? If so, under what direction and command was this done? Were hospitals prevented from disclosing information about deaths and injuries? asked the PTI.
He also asked for the same for the CCTV footage “recorded at the various premises from China Chowk to D Chowk in the Blue Area”, where the PTI convoys had gathered for their protest in Islamabad.
“What difficulties were faced by those who attempted to register FIRs and initiate further legal action regarding the events of November 24-27?” the group asked.
It called for a review of “cases of media censorship and restrictions on information related to the incident, including harassment of journalists.”
He reiterated his demand to decide the legality of what he called “the government’s imposition of Internet shutdowns” and their impact before, during and after the riots.
Prime Minister forms committee to respond to demands
At a press conference later in the day, Sanaullah said the prime minister had constituted a committee comprising representatives of the government and its coalition allies that would prepare an “effective response” to the PTI’s demands.
He said that the formulated answer would be the “final” one.
Offering his own analysis of the prima facie demands, Sanaullah said the PTI had “withdrawn” from previous demands it was making due to “a lack of substance” when it was reviewing the letter.
He expressed the view that the government committee will definitely respond to the PTI’s demands, saying that the PML-N government believes in the negotiation process to resolve the matter with the opposition in the larger national interest.
Sanaullah expressed hope that they would also hold their meetings in the coming days.
He said the PTI had filed a demand that all cases against its workers and supporters be political in nature, but had not given the name of any worker or the case number.
Sanaullah criticized that the PTI is trying to spread propaganda through its demands circulating in the media and reiterated that the government committee is ready to respond to the demands in a friendly manner.
Additional APP entry.
