Amid rising political temperatures and threats from the civil disobedience movement to call a breakthrough, the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agreed on Wednesday night to use the parliamentary forum for unconditional talks. Geo News.
This development came to light during a meeting between top PTI leaders including National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Asad Qaiser, Umar Ayub and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza at Speaker House Islamabad.
After the crucial meeting, the embattled PTI and the government have agreed to sit at the negotiating table without any preconditions.
Sources further said that the meeting took place after a telephonic conversation between Qaiser and Sadiq.
The government has accepted PTI’s offer of talks to create an atmosphere of reconciliation. [in the country]” Official sources said.
“PTI [leadership] approached the government for talks,” sources said, adding that the former ruling party had backed down on its pre-negotiation demands.
Government sources were of the view that they always advocate political dialogue to resolve issues.
Sources quoted government officials as saying, “Dialogue is the only way forward in politics.
The former ruling party had formed a five-member negotiating committee last week comprising Umar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja and Asad Qaiser.
The party founded by Khan demands the release of “political prisoners” facing trial and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of 9 May 2023 and a late-night crackdown on PTI protesters on 26 November.
After the apparent failure of PTI’s “do or die” protests, the jailed party founder warned the government that she would launch a “civil disobedience” movement if her demands were not met.
“If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will be launched from December 14,” the jailed former prime minister said, adding that the government would be responsible for the outcome of the movement. However, the late founder of the party postponed civil disobedience.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza said that negotiations are the mandate of the five-member committee.
When asked if the government approached the PTI for talks, Raza said: “Some issues have been handed over. Omar Ayub will answer this question.
He said that he is ready for negotiations.
Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said: “Informal talks do not mean talks have started.”
He further said that formal talks between the government and PTI have not started.
Informed sources said the ruling alliance has not yet formed a committee to include the PTI as the party founded by Khan has not formally approached for talks.
The PPP, which is the Muslim League-N’s main ally at the centre, was also unaware of the latest developments.
Government sources say that negotiations with PTI will be subject to the approval of President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.
Reacting to the latest developments, Prime Minister Nazir Tarar said that the speaker of the National Assembly had formed a negotiating committee in the past, adding that the same committee would negotiate with the PTI.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led party sources said, “Without PPP, there is no negotiation, no success.”
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that his party has not formally approached the government for talks.
‘There were no formal negotiations with PTI’
Addressing the Geo News With the program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar ruled out the start of formal talks between the PTI and the government.
“I don’t think it’s a loss of confidence [between the PTI and government] It can be reduced till the issue of May 9 and November 26 is resolved,” he said, referring to the PTI’s violent protests.
“Who will trust the PTI for talks,” the minister said, asking who would be the guarantor of the former ruling party in talks with the government.
“That [PTI] First of all, we should express our regret on May 9. [2023] And the events of November 26,” he added.
Tarar, however, said that informal talks with the PTI take place in Parliament and other forums, but no mechanism has been set up for formal talks with the opposition party.