Siddiqui warns of dissolving committee if PTI avoids fourth talks

ISLAMABAD: A spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, on Monday warned to dissolve the committee if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not participate in the fourth round of talks scheduled for tomorrow (January 28).

His remarks came after the PTI, citing its founder’s directives, refused to attend the January 28 meeting. Senior PTI leadership, during separate press conferences, reiterated their founder’s decision of discontinuing talks with the government as it did not form judicial commissions demanded by the party.

Barrister Gohar said, “Although PTI had decided to discontinue talks, however, if the government is serious, it must announce the commission first.” 

Since the onset of the government-opposition talks, the PTI has been insisting on three demands: arrange a meeting between PTI’s negotiation team and Imran Khan; release all political prisoners, including PTI founder; and form a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and Nov 26 events.

Earlier in the day, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq reached out to PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Asad Qaiser, urging them to attend the January 28 meeting set to take place at 11:45 am in Committee Room No 5 at Parliament House. 

During the call, Ayaz Sadiq emphasized that disputes can only be resolved through dialogue. However, sources suggest the PTI continued its defiant stance that “there will be no talks without the commission.”

Commenting on the PTI’s defiance, the spokesperson was of the opinion that the PTI was making “illogical” demands. It took the PTI over a month to share their demands in writing, while it forces the government to form two judicial commissions within a week, he added.

Siddiqui maintained that in the joint declaration, it was declared that the government will give a response over the PTI’s demands within seven working days. “Neither a reply nor the decision on the judicial commissions will be made within seven days.”

According to APP, Siddiqui was also called on the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, who reiterated that avoiding dialogue is an undemocratic stance.