Second round of PTI-govt talks begin today

ISLAMABAD: The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiation committees will begin the second round of talks on Thursday (today) afternoon.

Both sides started formal negotiations on December 23, with the former ruling party asked to bring its demands in writing in the next meeting on Jan 2 (today).

As per details, PTI has finalised its charter of demands after consulting with the party supremo Imran Khan.

The in-camera meeting has been rescheduled from 11 am to 3:30 pm today following the committee members’ request to change the meeting’s timing, the National Assembly spokesperson said.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq will chair the meeting in the Parliament House’s Constitution Committee Room.

The Imran Khan-founded party has decided to put forward two key demands including the release of all political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of the May 9 and November 26 protests.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday said that his party is prepared to launch a protest movement if their demands are not met.

Enlisting the major demands, referring to the PTI’s charter of demand, he said these included the release of the PTI founder, other leaders, and political prisoners.

The chief minister also reiterated his earlier call for the formation of a commission to investigate the violent incidents of May 9 and November 26. He expressed the hope that the year 2025 would mark the beginning of what he termed “real freedom”.