PTI requests the govt to grant more time so it could consult party founder Imran Khan on a final list of talks

ISLAMABAD, Jan 02 (SABAH): The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) requested the government on Thursday to grant more time so it could consult party founder Imran Khan on a final list of talks as the third round of talks between both sides was set for next week.

The first meeting between committees representing the government and the opposition PTI took place on December 23, 2024, kicking off long-anticipated talks between the rival parties to defuse prevailing political tensions.

A notification issued by the National Assembly (NA) Secretariat on Monday said that NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would chair an in-camera meeting of the second round between the negotiating teams of the federal government and PTI on January 2 (Thursday).

The meeting kicked off under the NA speaker’s oversight and is being attended by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council chief Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief Senator Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja from the opposition while from the government side are attending Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP MNAs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Dr. Farooq Sattar, Balochistan Awami Party lawmaker Khalid Magsi and Ejaz-ul-Haq.

Addressing a press conference after the negotiations, the NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the previous meeting had decided that the PTI would present its demands today but the opposition requested today that it still needed time for consultation with Imran Khan on a “conclusive list” of demands.

“The hope is that we will have the third meeting next week,” he said. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq hailed today’s talks, saying they were held in “an even more cordial atmosphere than previously”.

In particular, he pointed out that CM Gandapur had given very commendable suggestions and advice and “poured out his heart”.

“The most beautiful result of all this was that everyone decided to sit down and talk on Pakistan’s betterment, whether about the economy, terrorism or any other issue.”

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed satisfaction over talks being held in “more conducive environment”, saying that the former ruling party would present its “charter of demands” in next session after meeting its founder Imran Khan.

Reading out the joint statement, Senator Irfan Siddiqui said the opposition presented its point of view in detail and demanded the release of Imran Khan and other PTI leaders and supporters, along with a judicial commission on the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024.

He said the party also requested that it be allowed to meet Imran in Adiala Jail to consult him on the final charter of demands. He said that as per the PTI, Imran had given his permission to begin the talks and thus his instructions were necessary for their continuation. “The PTI said that the charter of demands will be presented in the next meeting in definitive written form.”

Irfan Siddiqui said that FM Dar told the opposition the government had no issue with the PTI committee meeting Imran for consultation on demands.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Omar Ayub Khan said, “Our agenda for the negotiations is clear. The release of under-trial political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023 and Nov 26.”

Terming the negotiations “necessary”, Ayub said the PTI would present its points. “Negotiations will happen. We will know the intentions of the government. We will see what happens,” he added.

The opposition leader further said, “We need to sit and talk with them, we’re politicians, not a commando force. This is a Form 47 government, we are talking with them out of necessity.” “We will talk to them without prejudice to our stance.”

Separately, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said earlier in the day that he was present “to facilitate the talks”. “I am getting positive feedback from both the opposition and the government,” he added.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, he said, “When they sit together today, then hopefully solutions to problems will be found.”

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the previous meeting had discussed the Charter of democracy and it would come up again in today’s talks. “These negotiations will end the bitterness and improve the situation.”

Speaking to a private TV channel in Parliament House before the meeting, KP CM Gandapur noted that their demands “are not present in writing” but relevant documents would be shared with the government team.

Responding to a question, he expressed optimism about positive progress in the negotiations. “[Goverment] committee has been formed, its existence proves that issues must be resolved,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Irfan Siddiqui — while speaking to a private TV channel— said that the government would look into the demands if presented in written form. “We will ask them how these demands can be fulfilled,” said Siddiqui, who is also a chairman of the government’s negotiation committee.

The senator added that how can the prisoners be released in the presence of the Constitution and law. “There is no such precedent in history that prisoners have been released by executive order,” he said, adding that the PTI was also in the government and if the release is possible, they “will definitely tell us”.

He noted that the former ruling party should guide the government on their demands and present a solution in light of the Constitution and law. “If they convince us, we will happily consider their demands,” he added.

Separately, PTI lawmaker Sher Afzal Khan Marwat held a meeting with the NA speaker before the second round of talks between the government and the opposition.

Speaking to a private TV channel, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq noted that “positive feedbacks” were coming from both sides, stressing that matters would be resolved when all sit on a negotiation table. “We all are Pakistanis… our priority is to speak for the betterment of the country and its people,” he added.

In response to a question, he said that the charter of democracy was discussed in the inaugural meeting, adding that the negotiations would “end the bitterness”. “We will definitely raise the issues being faced by the people […] charter of the economy will also be discussed,” he added.

“I’m here to facilitate […] the opposition and the government have to present their respective demands,” he added.

For his part, Marwat welcomed the military’s decision to pardon the 19 May 9 convicts, saying that PTI’s full expectations are with the ongoing negotiations. “We want political instability and uncertainty to end in the country.”