Negotiations between govt, PTI begin to defuse political tensions

ISLAMABAD: The first political dialogue between the government and the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has finally commenced at the Parliament House in Islamabad today.

With Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq in the chair, both sides have begun engagement to defuse the prevailing country’s political tensions and for a positive outcome.

After Imran Khan formed a five-member committee to hold talks with “anyone”, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a negotiating committee comprising ruling coalition members that will correspond with PTI.

Ending an extended deadlock, the high-level committee announced on Sunday included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister’s advisor Rana Sanaullah Khan, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar, IPP leader Abdul Aleem Khan, MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Dr Farooq Sattar.

Other committee members are Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Balochistan Awami Party’s Sardar Khalid Magsi.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the PM’s initiative and emphasised that progress could only be achieved through negotiations.

“Dialogue is the only solution to political problems in a democracy. We have been elected by the people and sent to solve their problems,” Speaker NA stated.

Furthermore, Sadiq said that he would strive to remain impartial and provide the required support, adding that the success of the talks ultimately depended on the committees representing both the government and the opposition.

He assured attendees that his office would always remain open to them and that the Speaker’s Secretariat would provide all necessary support in this regard.

“The country’s problems can be resolved amicably through cordial relations between the government and the opposition,” Ayaz Sadiq said while addressing the meeting.

Speaker of the House prayed to Allah Almighty to grant success in what is best for the country, best for democracy, and best for all of us.