In a bid to create an “atmosphere of reconciliation” and defuse prevailing political tensions in the country, embattled PTI and the government have agreed to sit on the negotiation table ahead of the former’s proposed civil disobedience movement, well-placed sources told Geo News.
Senior PTI leaders Asad Qaiser and Salman Akram Raja are expected to hold an important meeting with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in this regard, said sources within the former ruling party. The meeting has been scheduled following a telephonic contact between Qaiser and Sadiq, the sources added.
During the meeting, the PTI is likely to present its demand before the government’s team.
“The government has accepted the PTI’s dialogue offer to create an atmosphere of reconciliation [in the country],” said the government sources.
“PTI [leadership] approached the government for dialogue,” the sources said, adding that the former ruling party backtracked from its pre-talk demands.
The government source was of the view that they always advocated for political dialogue to settle issues.
“Dialogue is the sole way forward in politics,” the sources said, quoting the government officials.
The sources hoped that the government and the PTI would formally initiate talks from today.
The former ruling party formed a five-member negotiation committee comprising Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja and Asad Qaiser last week.
The Khan-founded party demands the release of “political prisoners” facing trial and the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023 and a late-night crackdown on PTI protesters on November 26.
Following the apparent failure of the PTI “do-or-die” protest, the incarcerated party founder had warned the government of launching a “civil disobedience” movement if his demands were not met.
“If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will be launched from December 14,” the jailed former premier had said, adding that the government would be responsible for the results of this movement. However, late the party founder deferred the civil disobedience to
Talking to journalists outside Parliament House, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza said that dialogues were the mandate of the five-member committee.
“A meeting on talks [with the government] is expected today,” he added.
When asked if the government approached the PTI for talks, Raza said: “Some matters are entrusted; Omar Ayub will respond to this question.”
He said that they were open for talks.
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram said: “Informal discussion does not mean that negotiations have begun.”
Formal talks between the government and PTI have not begun, he added.
The well informed sources said that the ruling alliance is yet to form a committee to engage PTI as the Khan-founded party did not make a formal contact seeking negotiation.
PPP, a key ally of the PML-N in the Centre, was also unaware of the fresh development.
The government sources said that the negotiation with the PTI would be subject to nod from President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.
Reacting to the fresh development, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the NA speaker had formed a negotiation committee in the past, adding that the same committee would hold talks with the PTI.
“No negotiation, no success sans PPP,” said sources within Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led party.
In a bid to clear the air, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that his party did not formally approached the government for negotiations.
Earlier in the day, Gohar urged the National Assembly to ensure justice for his party, warning against compelling them to return to the streets in protest.
Speaking on the floor of the lower house of parliament, Barrister Gohar criticised the state’s handling of the peaceful protests, highlighting alleged injustices and violence faced by PTI supporters.
“Our people were wronged… bullets were fired at them. In any civilised nation, such actions against peaceful protesters are unthinkable,” he said.
Oppression grows but ultimately fades away,” he said, emphasising the need for accountability and reform to prevent recurring injustices. Gohar reiterated that the PTI’s protests were peaceful, with no evidence of weapons among demonstrators.
