PTI sets another condition for final talks with govt

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiation committee member and Sunni Ittehad Council Hamid chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza has said that they were ready for the third round of negotiations but talks will not proceed if the government fails to form a judicial commission by January 31.

Talking to the media along with other members of the PTI negotiation committee after meeting the former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala jail, Hamid Raza said that the PTI committee was ready for the third round of negotiations and will provide two demands in writing.

He said that they want an end to the ongoing persecution of their workers and the identification of those responsible for it.

“A judicial commission should be formed to probe the incidents of May 9 and November 26,” he said adding that trials of their prisoners had been completed but they were being deprived of their legal rights.

Hamid Raza said that the government should come after working on the Judicial commission, and now the ball is in the government’s court to take the negotiations to a final conclusion. January 31 is our deadline for completing negotiations.

He said that a detailed meeting was held with Imran Khan but “even today the meeting was held in a controlled environment.”

In response to a question, he said that Imran Khan will decide to extend the date of January 31 and “we do not have the authority to extend the date for negotiations.”

Earlier, PTI negotiating committee members met with Imran Khan in Adiala jail after getting the government allowed permission.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Asad Qaiser, Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen chief Nasir Abbas Raja held a meeting with Imran Khan in Adiala jail.