ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the government and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) due to differences over the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024 The future of the country remains uncertain. Formal talks between the two sides began on December 23 last year with the aim of easing the ongoing political tensions and instability caused by the PTI protests. Allegations of election fraud and arrests of its members and leaders.
PTI presented a charter of demands in the third round of talks held on January 16 to set up two judicial commissions to investigate the incidents of May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024. gave the government a seven-day deadline to do so.
Key demands have stalled as the government has not yet agreed to establish the commission. In response, jailed PTI leader Imran Khan instructed his party to withdraw from negotiations if their demands were not met.
PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan told the media in front of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Monday that Khan had instructed the negotiating team to withdraw from negotiations if a judicial committee is not formed within seven days.
Khan, 72, has been in Adiala Jail since mid-2023 on multiple cases.
Mr. Gohar emphasized that the establishment of a judicial commission is essential for meaningful dialogue, and said there is no point in continuing negotiations unless the government moves forward with establishing the commission.
Gohar said the fourth round of talks would not take place unless the committee was established. However, he added that the PTI team will wait for seven days for a response from the government side.
On May 9, 2023, violent protests erupted after Khan was arrested by paramilitary rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises. His party workers destroyed more than a dozen military installations, including Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander’s residence) and the ISI building in Faisalabad. Khan had said his involvement in the May 9 incident was the result of a “well-planned plan” to “harass” him for political reasons.
On November 13 last year, Khan issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 26, calling for the restoration of electoral rights to the PTI, the release of detained party members and the repeal of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. etc. were requested. Thousands of PTI workers arrived in Islamabad in response to his call, but faced a police crackdown and were forcibly dispersed, with more than 1,400 arrested.
Meanwhile, the government’s negotiating committee spokesperson, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, said the government’s negotiating committee is considering extending the seven-day deadline for submitting responses to PTI’s demands by another week. He said that
On Monday, Senator Siddiqui posted on It may take another week,” he added. ”.
His remarks came against the backdrop of several reports claiming that the government was ready to respond and had decided not to form a judicial commission regarding the May 9 incident.
Siddiqui refuted the report, calling it “baseless” and claiming there is no truth to the news.
PTI had earlier announced that it would conclude negotiations by January 31, but current disagreements over core demands make it unlikely that the deadline will be met.
