Next round of PTI-government talks to be held on January 2

ISLAMABAD: The talks between the negotiation committees of the government and the opposition concluded under National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s chair on the political landscape of the country and the way forward.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that the efforts for these negotiations should be looked upon in a positive light. “The environment in today’s meeting was very positive. We want political chaos to end. We wish to work together for the betterment of the country,” he said.

NA Speaker also announced that the next meeting of the government and opposition negotiation committees will be held on January 2. The opposition committee has been instructed to present a charter of demands based. The government will present its point of view once the charter of demands is presented.

Earlier today (Monday), the negotiation committees of the government and the opposition came together to hold talks under National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s chair on the political landscape of the country and the way forward.

After the meeting, Senator Irfan Siddiqui said that the attendees of the meeting offered Fateha for the martyrs who lost their lives in the war against terrorism. “The attendees pledged to stand by the nation in the war against terrorism,” he added. Members of the negotiation committees from the government and the opposition thanked NA Speaker for his efforts in initiating these talks, the senator said.

Sources familiar with the events said that the meeting began with prayers for the success of the talks.
Speaking on the occasion, Sadiq said, “My job is to facilitate the talks. I am not in touch with the establishment but with the Prime Minister and the opposition”.

The opposition was represented by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member and former speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI’s allied party Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) Raja Nasir Abbas. From the government’s side, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah and Irfan Siddiqui from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) participated, along with Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Raja Pervez Ashraf and Naveed Qamar.

“The government and the opposition coming together will strengthen democracy,” NA Speaker said, adding, “Negotiations are the only solution to political problems in a democracy.” He said that this country is ours and the people have elected us and sent us to solve their problems. As public representatives, we have to find solutions to the problems of the people, he added.

The committees were formed yesterday, after the NA Speaker suggested to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to form a negotiating committee. He conveyed that the opposition party PTI had also formed a committee to hold talks with the government, as told by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar. The PM had formed a committee comprising of the ruling coalition, and the PTI welcomed the move.

Also read: PM forms negotiation committee following NA speaker, PTI chairman’s suggestions

Yesterday, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had invited both committees to his chambers at 11:30 AM. As per latest reports the committees have arrived at the speaker’s chambers and the talks have begun. Sadiq said that with cordial relations between the government and the opposition, the country’s problems can be resolved amicably. “The country’s economic development depends on political stability,” he said.

Raja Pervez Ashraf, Dr Farooq Sattar, and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also joined the meeting.

Deputy PM Dar said, “Whenever the government talks about negotiations, a tweet comes from the other side”. To this Asad Qaiser responded that PTI, as a party, is in agreement on the negotiations. “We have discussed this issue in detail in our core committee,” he said, adding, “We also condemn this act.”

Dar said, “It is just the beginning [of negotiations], we will sit down and complete the TORs.” SIC’s Hamid Raza responded, “We are also going for negotiations with an open heart. We will not back down from our agenda.”

The opposition negotiation committee demands the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission. Imran Khan will be taken into confidence in every matter.

Sahibzada Hamid Raza

Raja Nasir Abbas said, “Everyone should think of Pakistan. Imran Khan wants the supremacy of the constitution and law.”

INCARCERATED PTI FOUNDER TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP

Yesterday, PTI’s Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram had said that while PTI welcomes the government’s formation of the negotiating committee, the party will also have to keep the party founder and incarcerated former PM Imran Khan on the updates.

Imran Khan has announced a civil disobedience movement and has threatened with the deadline of Sunday (yesterday). However, yesterday both the government and the opposition showed willingness to hold negotiations, which is perhaps why the civil disobedience movement has been delayed.

Also read: PTI accepts NA Speaker’s invitation for negotiations

On the other hand, former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry expressed displeasure over these updates with a post on X, formerly Twitter, and called the current PTI leadership “compromised”. He said yesterday that he will meet with Imran Khan in Adiala jail and suggest that the current leadership be removed, because they are benefitting by keeping Imran in jail.

PTI LEADERS SPEAK IN FAVOR OF NEGOTIATIONS

Former president and PTI leader Arif Alvi and Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub spoke on the ongoing negotiations outside Peshawar High Court. Alvi said, “Politics will save the country. I always say that there should be negotiations with those who are ruling”

He said that the people of Pakistan can recognise fake news, adding that Omar Ayub is a member of the negotiations committee, “he knows how to negotiate.”

Ayub added, “We have a seven-member committee, out of which three people are participating in the meeting [today].”