After a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf founder Imran Khan, the PTI’s negotiating committee on Thursday said it wants ongoing talks with the government to reach a “logical conclusion” by January 31, 2025, and the judiciary’s ” “Legitimate” demands should be reiterated. Investigation of May 9 and November 26 protests and release of “political prisoners” under trial.
Founder of PTI [Imran Khan] Sunni Unity Council (SIC) head Sahibzada Hamid Raza while talking to the journalists after meeting the imprisoned former prime minister said that he is ready to forgive all the ill-treatment done to him for the sake of Pakistan.
Sources said that PTI negotiators briefed Imran about the first round of talks on Monday and consulted on the future strategy. Geo News.
After months of intense political tension, the former ruling party and government finally held the first round of talks this week.
On behalf of the government, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Leader of People’s Party Raja Parvez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar and Leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) Farooq Sattar participated in the inaugural meeting. of .
While PTI was represented by former Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Sunni Unity Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
The two sides are scheduled to hold another meeting on January 2, when the PTI will present its demands in writing to the government panel.
The talks between the government and the PTI come in the wake of the former ruling party’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if its demands for the release of all political prisoners, including Khan, and a judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots are met. Formation and event of November 26, went missing.
The jailed former prime minister had last month asked his supporters to start an anti-government movement by stopping remittances in the first phase.
Talking to the media today, Hamid Raza reprimanded the authorities for torturing PTI workers and supporters. Sheet and wall. parliamentarians, and stealing the party’s mandate on February 8 – the day the country held general elections.
“Hence, the first phase of the civil disobedience movement, the ‘Boycott of Shipments’ will continue,” he noted.
Secondly, he said, the time frame for the ongoing talks with the government is January 31, adding that he wants to bring the talks to a logical conclusion before the cut-off time. “Umar Ayub, who is leading the negotiation process, will brief the government committee on the time frame on January 2,” he added.
Moreover, he said, Imran was ready to forgive the ill-treatment meted out to him, including the assassination, for the sake of Pakistan.
The SIC chief said the PTI founder expressed confidence in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and its Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, calling the MPs “their pride” to “face fascism and stand firm”. stated.
Talking about the Karam issue, Hamid said, Imran held a detailed discussion with KP Chief Minister Gandapur and MWM chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and insisted on resolving the issue at the earliest.
Reiterating PTI’s demands, he said that the opposition held the former ruling party responsible for planning the riots. “However, we categorically deny these allegations. […] Therefore, a judicial commission should be set up to conduct an impartial investigation into the incidents and the CCTV footage should be brought to light.”
Raza claimed that some “certain elements” were inciting the May 9 protesters to move towards “certain goals”. Referring to the November 26 protest, he called for a judicial inquiry into the crackdown, saying 13 protesters were confirmed dead while 64 others sustained gunshot wounds.
In the end, the SIC chief said, he did not want Imran’s release “as a result of the deal”. He further said that we want the release of PTI founder as per law and constitution.
The first round of talks ended with the government conceding to the former ruling party’s demand to consult its jailed party founder, who has been behind bars in Adiala jail for a year.
Talks between the current government and the PTI are taking place after last month’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if their demands are not met.