Much-anticipated talks between PTI, govt to be held today

0
175

ISLAMABAD, JAN 16 (DNA): The third round of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is scheduled to take place today amid rising doubts and criticisms.

The much-anticipated meeting will be chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and begin at 11:30am at the Parliament House in Islamabad with sources within the PTI committee saying that the party will present its demands in written form during today’s session.

The PTI’s committee has reportedly received comprehensive instructions from incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, based on which their demands have been finalised.

Meanwhile, government committee sources — while emphasising commitment to negotiate with an open heart and sincere intentions to achieve political stability in the country — have said that once PTI’s demands are presented, they will consult their leadership for further steps.

When asked by Geo News whether significant progress in the talks could be expected before January 31, sources from the government committee remarked: “If the other party wishes to move forward conditionally, that is their choice.”

However, they questioned how positive results could emerge from such an approach.

The discussions remain critical in addressing the ongoing political instability and fostering mutual understanding between the two sides.

The much-awaited negotiations are being held after months of heightened political tensions between the PTI and the ruling coalition with two sides finally holding their inaugural round of talks on December 27, 2024 followed by a second session on January 2, 2025.

The PTI, which has demanded the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission for probing the May 9 riots and the November 26 protests, has set the January 31 time frame for the ongoing negotiations to reach a “logical conclusion” — something Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that the former ruling party should extend to February 28.

Today’s third round of talks will be held after the former ruling party secured Khan’s approval to continue talks with the government and present their demands in writing last week.

With PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar expressing hope for negotiations to conclude and bring good news, the party has warned that the ongoing parleys might collapse and a fourth round of talks was highly unlikely if a judicial commission was not formed after the third negotiation session.

Meanwhile, the government has maintained that it would consult its allies once the Khan-founded party tables its written demands.

“We will respond to PTI’s written demands after discussing them [….] All these things may take time,” said PM’s aide Sanaullah who is also part of the government’s negotiation committee.