ISLAMABAD: The second round of talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has concluded. The PTI has sought more time to consult Imran Khan on its written demands, here on Thursday.
After the second round of talks, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq told the media that talks between the government and the PTI will continue, with the third meeting to be held next week.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation committee, read out a joint statement. The statement revealed that the PTI demanded the release of political prisoners, including the PTI founder, and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26. The PTI also said that its demands would be presented in writing in the next meeting.
Irfan Siddiqui confirmed that the date of the next meeting would be fixed after meeting the PTI founder.
Sources say that the PTI has also demanded that no more cases be registered against political prisoners. PTI stressed that the existing cases should be processed in accordance with court decisions, and no new cases should be registered against political prisoners, including the PTI founder.
The meeting, chaired by the National Assembly Speaker, was attended by PTI leaders including Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Raja Nasir Abbas and Salman Akram Raja.
PTI’s Shaukat Yousafzai said that for progress in the talks with the government, attention should be paid to two important demands. He stressed that the talks will move forward only when these demands are met.
Rana Sanaullah, Irfan Siddiqui, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Naveed Qamar participated in the talks from the government side.
According to sources, consultations were held between the government and PTI leaders with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq before the talks. PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Asad Qaiser and Sher Afzal Marwat met government representatives including Rana Sanaullah, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Naveed Qamar.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also met opposition leaders Omar Ayub and Asad Qaiser to discuss negotiations and parliamentary matters. Speaker Sadiq said that both sides will present their demands, their role is to facilitate the process.
Earlier, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai said that the party will not back down from its two main demands, which include the release of all detained workers and the formation of a judicial commission for the incidents of May 9 and November 26. He confirmed that the government has time till January 30 to respond to these demands.
On the government side, Irfan Siddiqui assured that flexibility will be shown on PTI’s demands wherever possible.
