- Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq emphasized the need for dialogue to end the bitterness.
- Political problems should be solved through political means: Gauhar
- The PTI chairman linked the development to the resolution of the party’s demands.
ISLAMABAD: As uncertainty remains over the possibility of talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led opposition, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has asked his role in possible talks between the Treasury and opposition benches. Willingness has been shown. .
I am ready to play a role in negotiations on any issue including political issues. [….] My office and home are always available for anti-government talks,” Sadiq said in a video statement on Wednesday.
Welcoming yesterday’s exchange between the government and PTI leaders in the Lower House, the Speaker stressed the importance of dialogue to end the ongoing acrimony between the two sides.
The remarks came against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the PTI government’s talks, which has been the talk of the town since party founder Imran Khan formed a five-member negotiating committee.
A committee comprising Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Umar Ayub Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja and Asad Qaiser were among the “political prisoners” facing trial. Ordered to seek release. 9 May 2023 and formation of a judicial commission to investigate the late night incidents 26 November crackdown on Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters.
The PTI – whose founder along with several other leaders and activists are behind bars and facing a flurry of cases – and the current government have been in a tumultuous state with marches on Islamabad on several occasions this year. History is shared. .
The former ruling party had also announced the launch of a civil disobedience movement – which Khan has now postponed for “a few days” at the “request of PTI leaders”.
On Tuesday, there were some less heated exchanges between the PTI and government leaders, inviting the PTI to approach the government than their usual battle with Assistant Prime Minister for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. Hoy says that his party is in favor of negotiations.
Sanaullah also emphasized the neutrality of the Speaker’s office, saying: “It is as much ours as it is yours, and the current Speaker [Ayaz] Sadiq has always maintained his neutrality.”
Speaking on the Assembly floor, Sher Afzal Marwat of PTI said that Terms of Reference (TORs) should be prepared for negotiations.
However, the current government, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, has clearly expressed doubts about talks with the PTI on several occasions.
“For the first time there was a pleasant breeze from the opposition […] But negotiations cannot take place at the point of a gun,” Asif said while addressing a session of the National Assembly a day ago.
The minister noted that there has been no formal discussion with Khan’s party yet, stressing that if they all belong to this House, matters should be resolved in this building itself.
He also termed the formation of the negotiation committee by PTI as “meaningless” and said that when there is a lack of seriousness, it does not matter.
Apart from this, reiterating the conciliatory approach of the party, Chairman Barrister Gauhar has said that the solution of political problems must be found through political means. The News reported on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House on Tuesday, Gauhar said development can only happen if PTI’s demands are openly discussed and grievances and grievances are properly redressed.
“We do not work independently; we take instructions from the PTI founder,” he asserted.
“If there is progress in this regard, it will be a positive step, political issues should be resolved through political means,” the PTI chairman remarked.