Imran Khan calls off negotiations with government

ISLAMABAD: The former Prime Minister Imran Khan has officially announced an end to negotiations with the government, chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar told media.

As per Barrister Ali Gohar, the government announced the setting up of a judicial commission, but it has been seven days and nothing has yet happened.

The PTI had been insisting on the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and to release “political prisoners“.

During the third round of negotiations on January 16, the party had submitted its demands in writing to the government’s negotiating committee.

However, in the absence of any agreement on the commission, the PTI found the negotiations “worthless” and decided not to participate in the fourth round with the government.

PTI senior leader Omar Ayub had stated that a judicial commission must be constituted before the fourth round of talks, and that the party would not engage in further negotiations with the government until this demand is met.

Earlier, PTI made three demands which included: meeting of the PTI’s negotiation team with Imran Khan, the release of all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, and setting up a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 mayhem.

The party has been criticizing government for its failure to meet these demands, and by the looks of it, now it seems they will take a tougher stand by simply pulling out of all activities affecting further negotiations.

It’s worth noting that Senator Shibli Faraz had previously given the government an ultimatum to conclude the talks by January 31, but it appears that the party has now decided to withdraw from the talks altogether until their demands aren’t met.