Govt dismisses PTI’s negotiation deadline as “Face-Saving” attempt
The federal government has dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) January 31 deadline for concluding negotiations as a “face-saving” tactic. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday remarked that the government is not taking the ultimatum seriously, calling it a response to PTI’s recent political setbacks.
The PTI’s negotiation committee issued the deadline after meeting party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail. The party reiterated its demands for a judicial probe into the May 9 riots, the November 26 late-night crackdown, and the release of what it terms “political prisoners.”
Also Read:
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief and PTI negotiation team member Sahibzada Hamid Raza said that Imran Khan is prepared to forgive past grievances “for the sake of Pakistan.” However, Raza confirmed that the first phase of PTI’s civil disobedience movement, the boycott of remittances, will continue despite ongoing talks.
Speaking on a Geo News program, Tarar criticized PTI’s approach, claiming that the party is seeking face-saving after a series of political failures. He pointed to unsuccessful initiatives such as the “final call” protest in Islamabad and challenges related to the 26th Constitutional Amendment as examples of PTI’s dwindling influence.
Tarar also dismissed PTI’s call for overseas Pakistanis to withhold remittances, predicting it would fail like previous campaigns. He categorically denied claims that any deal had been offered to Imran Khan, such as house arrest or relocation to a prison in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI holds political power.
The much-anticipated negotiation process between the government and the opposition began earlier this week at Parliament House after months of political tensions. Both sides have agreed to continue discussions, with PTI scheduled to present its demands in written form at the next session on January 2.
From the government’s side, the negotiation committee includes key figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar, and MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar. The PTI delegation is led by former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, SIC Chief Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Senator Irfan Siddiqui as the spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee. Siddiqui, who also chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, will play a key role in communicating the government’s position during the talks.
Read all the Breaking News Live on pakistantimes.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from Pakistan Times. Follow us on Whatsapp channel for more.
