Govt still hopes for resumption of talks despite PTI skips fourth session

ISLAMABAD, JAN 28 (DNA): The federal government and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday expressed hope that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would return to talks after the fourth round of negotiations ended without any progress due to the latter’s decision not to attend.”

Speaking to the media after an inconclusive end to the fourth round of talks skipped by the PTI, Sadiq said that the negotiations could not go forward due to the absence of the former ruling party.

“I hope that the talks will resume. [And] the [government’s] negotiation committee will remain intact and not dissolve,” the NA speaker said, adding, “The negotiations are the only way forward [….] I request the opposition to find a way for the dialogue.”

Sadiq’s remarks come amid the PTI’s refusal to attend the fourth round of talks scheduled today citing the government’s failure to form the judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots and November 2024 Islamabad protest. The party on January 23 had announced its decision to call off the dialogue only to later backtrack on it saying that they were only put on hold.

The ongoing dialogue between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government and the PTI commenced in late December after months of heightened political tensions.

The two sides have held three rounds of talks. Although the PTI has presented its written charter of demands, and weeks of negotiations — with three sessions taking place so far — have made little progress on key matters.

Speaking alongside Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed hope that the opposition would reach out to the NA speaker for further talks.

Lamenting the PTI’s decision to avoid today’s meeting, Dar said that it would be inappropriate for them to issue a unilateral statement in the former ruling party’s absence.

“We must have brought something if we came to the meeting [….] We have prepared a response to the PTI’s demands,” the deputy PM remarked.

“If they [PTI] had come, we would have given our answer to the speaker and them in the committee,” he added.

Censuring the PTI’s attitude towards the talks, the seasoned politician underscored the government’s positive efforts aimed at the progress of the dialogue process.

“We hope that they will come to the meeting [and] we will answer them there,” the FM noted.

Sadiq and Dar’s comments with that of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif who, while speaking to the media separately, also said that the channels for talks should remain open.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, part of the government’s negotiation team, has also said that the PTI would have to come back to the table as there was no other way forward than dialogue.

The PM’s adviser also said that there was a possibility of setting up a parliamentary committee instead of a judicial commission as the former could not be established on matters that were sub judice in nature.

The prevailing ambiguity surrounding the PTI-govt talks revolves around the PTI’s demand for the judicial commission which has emerged as a point of contention between the two sides.

The former ruling party wanted the judicial commission to be formed before the fourth session of negotiations, whereas the government insisted that it would respond to the opposition party’s demand during the committees’ meeting and said it would not respond to threats or boycotts.