PTI and government agree to hold unconditional talks through parliamentary forums
In a significant development aimed at easing political tensions in the country, the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have agreed to hold unconditional talks through parliamentary forums. This decision follows PTI’s earlier warning of launching a civil disobedience movement, which the party had deferred.
The breakthrough came during a meeting at the Speaker House in Islamabad between National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and senior PTI leaders, including Asad Qaiser, Omar Ayub, and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza. The meeting was initiated after a telephonic conversation between Qaiser and Sadiq.
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According to sources, the government has accepted PTI’s proposal for dialogue to foster an atmosphere of reconciliation. PTI has reportedly stepped back from its earlier preconditions for talks, demonstrating a willingness to engage in negotiations. “Dialogue is the sole way forward in politics,” government representatives emphasized, underscoring their consistent support for resolving issues through discussions.
PTI recently formed a five-member committee to lead the negotiations, comprising Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja, and Asad Qaiser. The party’s primary demands include the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate key events, including the violent protests on May 9 and the crackdown on PTI protesters on November 26.
Despite these developments, formal negotiations have yet to begin. Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza clarified that while informal discussions have taken place, formal talks have not been initiated. Similarly, PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that informal discussions should not be misconstrued as formal negotiations.
The ruling coalition, however, has yet to form a committee to engage PTI. Some sources indicated that negotiations would require approval from key figures in the coalition, including PPP President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. Meanwhile, PPP, a crucial coalition partner, has expressed reservations about the process, emphasizing that any successful negotiation would require their involvement.
Reacting to the situation, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted that informal discussions occur within parliament but ruled out any formal negotiation mechanism being in place. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar echoed this stance, citing a lack of trust between the government and PTI, particularly in light of PTI’s previous protests. He stressed that PTI must first express remorse over its actions during the May 9 and November 26 incidents.
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