No commission, no fourth round of talks: PTI 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub declared that the party would not participate in the fourth round of negotiations with the government unless a judicial commission is formed. 

Talking to media flanked by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and other party leaders in Islamabad on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly criticised the government for failing to arrange a promised meeting with PTI’s founding leader, saying repeated requests had gone unanswered.

He made it clear that “the government can sit and beat their drum…but without the commission, there will be no negotiations.” He also refused to have been informed of a new date for the next round of talks.

Earlier, on Jan 20, Barrister Gohar quoted PTI Imran Khan as saying that if the commission is not formed within seven days, there will be no fourth round of govt-PTI talks. 

No further talks sans formation of judicial commission: Imran Khan

Since the onset of the govt-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.

Commenting on the conviction of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the graft case, Omar Ayub said the Al-Qadir Trust case is a sham; the judiciary was under immense pressure and “the verdict was announced by a dummy court”.

What are the cases against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi?

On the occasion, Barrister Gohar said that Pakistan hold the record to pass legislations within the minimum timeframe as many important laws were rushed through the Parliament with minimal discussion. “In just 88 days, not even 10 minutes were allocated for proper debate on key legislations,” he claimed. 

PTI leaders Amri Dogar and Ali Muhammad Khan echoed the demand for judicial reforms and transparency in ongoing cases. Dogar said that today 700 PTI workers were brought to the anti-terrorism court from Attock.

He said “innocent workers” are being treated inhumanely as 500 workers are crammed into single prisoner van.”

He also called for treating more than 3,000 detained PTI workers according to the jail manual.

In addition, Ali Muhammad Khan claimed that the case in which Imran Khan was convicted has no grounds.

Intra-party elections case: Gohar says PTI’s symbol is Imran Khan

Referring to the £190 million transferred by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to Pakistan following a settlement with Malik Riaz, Ali Muhammad said that Imran Khan is being punished for bringing this money to Pakistan.

Taking a toll on the judiciary, he said that the judge who are capable enough to hear the case of a bicycle thief and a pickpocket, sentenced the former prime minister.

HAS GIVEN GOVERNMENT UNTIL JAN 31 TO CONCLUDE TALKS

Meanwhile, Senator Shibli Faraz while taking to media outside Adiala jail said that “PTI has given the government until Jan 31 to conclude the ongoing talks and before that our meeting with Imran Khan must be arranged.”

He also insisted that the establishment of a commission would be a litmus test for the government’s sincerity. “Without a commitment to the commission, negotiations are pointless,” he said. 

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Faraz further stressed that the commission would pave the way for a fair inquiry, separating the guilty from the innocent, and benefiting both the government and the nation.