Follow Us on Google News
The second round of negotiations between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the government is set to take place on January 2 at the Parliament House in Islamabad. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party has decided to present two key demands to the ruling coalition following consultations.
Since Khan’s imprisonment last year on multiple charges, the relationship between the PTI and both the government and military establishment has soured significantly. The deterioration has been marked by protests that often turned violent amid government crackdowns.
In light of the unrest, Khan formed a five-member committee to engage in talks with “anyone,” indicating a change in the PTI’s parliamentary approach. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assembled a committee composed of ruling coalition members.
The first meeting between the government and PTI committees took place on Monday, marking the beginning of much-anticipated negotiations aimed at reducing political tensions in the country.
The PTI has set a January 31 deadline to finalise the negotiations. Earlier, Sanaullah indicated that the government would be willing to “accommodate such a request.”
Significant progress has been made regarding the negotiations, sources said as PTI leaders have discussed demands for the formation of a judicial commission and the release of prisoners.
They added that the PTI would formally present the above mentioned demands in writing to the government team. The party would seek the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26.
It is expected that PTI would be at its full strength, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq would chair the talks between the two sides, according to a notification issued by the National Assembly Secretariat. The meeting is scheduled for January 2 at 11:30 am. Like the last time, it would be an in-camera meeting.
