Amid the threat of civil disobedience, Assistant Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has signaled “progress” in possible talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite the former ruling party refusing to make the first move. gave
“[National Assembly] The Speaker has contacted the Prime Minister. […] I think there will be progress in this regard in a day or two,” he said while replying to a question regarding the formation of a government committee for talks with the PTI on Friday. Geo News Program ‘Today with Shahzeb Khanzada’.
The jailed PTI founder warned the government in a post on X that if his “legitimate demands”, including the release of undertrial political prisoners and a judicial inquiry into the May 9 incidents and the November 26 PTI In case of crackdown, civil disobedience movement will be started. Protesters will not be met until Sunday (December 22).
“Both these are legitimate demands, and if the government does not implement them by Sunday, the first phase of the civil disobedience movement, the ‘delivery boycott’, will be launched,” the ousted prime minister added.
The PM’s aide’s statement comes in the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the PTI government’s talks, which have been the talk of the town since Imran’s formation of a negotiating committee.
Earlier this week, reports of an agreement between the former ruling party and the government to use the parliamentary forum for talks emerged after senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser met National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
However, Qaiser denied these reports saying that he had gone to Sadiq’s residence to offer condolences. “There has been no discussion regarding negotiations. [NA] He further said that the government has also said that no talks have been initiated with PTI.
Talking during today’s show, Sanaullah said that every issue can be discussed, but no guarantee can be given as to which demand will be accepted and which one will not. If they force us to accept these demands, then what is the need for negotiations?
In response to a question, he said that PTI’s negotiation committee is in touch with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Moreover, he said that the current political crisis actually started in 2018, adding that his party bore all that PTI was complaining about.
When asked if the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which will be delivered on December 23 (Monday), will derail the talks, the prime minister’s aide said the case is being heard in the trial court, adding He said that he does not think that this decision will have any impact. negotiation process.
‘PTI will not take any step’
Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said that his party has formed a committee for negotiations. “The impression is being given that our party has surrendered,” he said, adding that it was not.
“It’s theirs. [the government’s] The task is to initiate dialogue, we will not take the first step, Akram clarified. Geo News In the program ‘New Pakistan’, he said that there are engagements between the government and PTI, but they should not be called negotiations.
A day earlier, Imran had said that the PTI’s offer of talks had been “made a mockery of”, and it looked like the party had surrendered. have given “The delay in negotiations and the civil disobedience movement was offered in the wider national interest.”
If the government shows no interest, we will not force them to negotiate. Our offering should never be seen as a sign of weakness. If the government still wants to stop the civil disobedience movement, it should approach us regarding our two demands or convince us that they are unconstitutional and cannot be heeded.”