The PTI on Thursday asked the government to grant it more time to consult party founder Imran Khan on a final list of talks as the third round of talks between the two sides was set for next week.
The first meeting between the committees representing the government and the opposition PTI took place on December 23, kicking off the long-awaited talks between the rival parties to defuse prevailing political tensions.
A notification issued by the National Assembly (NA) Secretariat on Monday said that NA President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would chair a closed-door meeting of the second round between the negotiating teams of the federal government and the PTI on 2 January (today).
The meeting began under the supervision of the Speaker of the National Assembly and is attended by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser, the Ittehad Sunni council chief Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdat-i- Muslimeen chief senator Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri and PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja of the opposition, while on the government side were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP MPs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, and others.
In a press conference after the negotiations, the National Assembly speaker said that in the previous meeting it had been decided that the PTI would present its demands today, but the opposition requested today that it still needed time to consult with Imran on a “list conclusive” of claims.
“The hope is that we will have the third meeting next week,” he said. Sadiq praised today’s talks, saying they were held in “an even more cordial atmosphere than before.”
In particular, he noted that CM Gandapur had given very commendable suggestions and advice and “poured his heart out”.
“The most beautiful result of all this was that everyone decided to sit down and talk about the betterment of Pakistan, whether it was the economy, terrorism or any other issue.”
Reading out the joint statement, Senator Siddiqui said the opposition presented its view in detail and demanded the release of Imran and other PTI leaders and supporters along with a judicial commission into the events of May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024. .
He said the party also requested that it be allowed to meet Imran at Adiala jail to consult him on the final letter of demands. He said that according to the PTI, Imran had given his permission to start the talks and therefore his instructions were necessary for their continuation.
“The PTI said that the list of demands will be presented in the next meeting in final written form.”
Siddiqui said FM Dar told the opposition that the government had no problem with the PTI committee meeting Imran to consult on the demands.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Ayub said: “Our agenda for the negotiations is clear. “The release of the prosecuted political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023 and November 26.”
Ayub called the negotiations “necessary” and said the PTI would present its points. “Negotiations will happen. We will know the government’s intentions. “We will see what happens,” he added.
The opposition leader further said: “We need to sit down and talk to them, we are politicians, not a commando force. “This is a Form 47 government, we are talking to them out of necessity.”
“We will talk to them without prejudice to our position.”
Separately, Sadiq said earlier in the day that he was present “to facilitate the talks.” “I am receiving positive comments from both the opposition and the government,” he added.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, he said: “When you sit together today, hopefully solutions to problems will be found.”
Sadiq said the Charter of Democracy had been discussed at the previous meeting and would be discussed again in today’s talks.
“These negotiations will end the bitterness and improve the situation.”
Sources had said that the PTI had decided to limit itself to two initial demands in today’s talks; the release of prosecuted political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023 and November 26.
Background conversations with party leaders revealed that he was upset by the “illogical and absurd statements” about the talks, issued by government ministers, and wanted the ruling party to review its “nonsense approach and create a favorable environment for the conversations”.
Sources had said the party would share these demands with the government in writing today and awaited a resolution of these issues as confidence-building measures, before moving forward.
More to follow.
