Govt denies ending negotiations with PTI, Barrister Gohar willing to reconsider

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairperson Barrister Gohar has responded to the statement given by spokesperson of government’s committee, Irfan Siddiqui that PTI is willing to reconsider dialogue as long as the government frames the commission.

Following the statement given by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairperson Barrister Gohar about calling off talks with government, spokesperson of government’s committee, Irfan Siddiqui, had denied such developments.

“Even seven days were many to announce a judicial commission,” said Barrister Gohar. “We can reconsider but the government should announce the commission,” he added. “What is stopping them from saying that a commission is going to be formed?”

Siddiqui criticised PTI for making inconsistent statements and changing their stance frequently, adding that the talks are hinged upon PTI founder Imran Khan’s statements: “Now, however, given they (PTI) are not willing to engage in a dialogue, whom do we approach? We cannot be expected to address walls.”

The spokesperson also pointed out that more often than not the negotiation committee within PTI is also unaware of any developments: “It was decided that we all will sit together on January 28 so instead of backing out, they should face us.”

He added that instead of hopping from one statement to another, PTI members should take this matter seriously because the government’s negotiating committee would like to exclude itself from ‘games’ whose foundation is on lack of trust.

“Despite reservations, we have been part of the negotiations,” said PTI Chairman. “We had placed two demands in the negotiations, and gave a timeframe for the formation of the commission.”

“Protests in parliament are the right of the opposition,” said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar. “We have placed 8 laws on the agenda,” he said.

On January 23, PTI announced that it will no longer engage in any kind of dialogue with the government.

This was relayed by PTI chairman Barrister Ali Gohar while talking to media outside the Adiala Jail. He said that PTI founder Imran Khan has decided that we will not hold any negotiations with the government as it has become a futile exercise.