U-turn: PTI puts talks with govt on ‘hold’ after calling them off

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has now said that ongoing negotiations are on hold, a shift from the party’s earlier announcement of calling them off.

During a media interaction upon reaching Parliament House, Barrister Gohar highlighted that the PTI had entered discussions with an open heart, presenting only two demands — the formation of judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots and last year’s November protest in Islamabad, as well as the release of “political prisoners”.

PTI chairman’s statement contrasts his earlier announcement of calling off the ongoing talks with the government over the latter’s failure to form the judicial commission within the seven-day period set by the former ruling party.

“The founder of PTI has categorically announced that no further rounds of negotiations will take place,” Gohar had said while speaking to the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Thursday.

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

However, weeks of talks — with three sessions taking place so far — have made little progress on key matters.

The Khan-founded party, in its written charter of demands presented to the government during the third session on January 16, had demanded the formation of two judicial commissions — mutually nominated by the PTI and the government within seven days — and the release of “political prisoners”.

The PTI’s announcement, however, drew criticism from the government which called out the party for having a rigid attitude and urged it to reconsider its decision.

However, seemingly backtracking on his previous statement, Barrister Gohar today said that the party could reconsider its decision to call off the dialogue, but the government must announce the formation of judicial commission.

“Seven days were more than enough for the commission announcement, but no progress has been made,” he remarked.

‘PTI to not attend Jan 28 session’
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has summoned the fourth round of talks between the government and the PTI at 11:45pm on January 28.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, has said that the PTI has been invited to the negotiation committee meeting.

“The PTI hasn’t informed [us] in writing about calling off the talks,” he remarked.

However, refusing to be part of any further dialogue session, Barrister Gohar has said that the party would not attend the fourth round of talks scheduled for January 28.

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Separately, speaking to the media outside Parliament House earlier, Senator Siddiqui censured the former ruling party for its Thursday’s announcement off calling of the parleys.

“We have not called off the negotiations, but when one side abruptly ends the talks, whom are we supposed to negotiate with? Should we sit in a room and talk to the walls?” he said.

He criticised the unpredictability of the opposing side, saying: “The issue is that the prison gates open, and someone suddenly makes an announcement without the negotiation committee even being informed.”

Highlighting the lack of coordination, Siddiqui remarked that the etiquette, skills, and mutual understanding required for negotiations seem to be absent from their approach.

“This is not child’s play; they need to move beyond these ‘ifs and buts’,” he said. Reiterating the agreed-upon timeline, he added that as per the agreement, the meeting was to be held on January 28.

“Let them come, sit down, and hear us out. But instead, we hear one thing one day and something entirely different the next.”

Siddiqui also pointed out that Barrister Gohar is not a member of the negotiation committee, saying: “Gohar should convey to his committee the importance of honouring their commitments and attending the meeting as promised.”

Siddiqui further expressed frustration at the inconsistent approach of the PTI. “We cannot be part of this game where there is no certainty or sincerity,” he said.

The senator’s remarks come as Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that the government could not be held responsible for ending the negotiations.

“We entered the dialogue and still want to continue, but there is a way of holding talks. It has always been that one of the parties gives their charter of demands and the other responds to it. The issues are then framed and discussed,” Sanaullah said while speaking in Geo News’ programme ‘Geo Pakistan’

The PM’s aide ruled out any possibility that PTI ended the dialogue due to the “restoration” of their long-desired “direct channel” in the wake of “another window” open simultaneously for the Imran Khan-founded party.

Sanaullah said that the government had made sure that there was “no other window”.

“Any dialogue, discussion, settlement or agreement on political issues is supposed to take place between the political forces only, or the opposition and the government.

“Those they [PTI] are looking up to won’t have any discussion on any political agenda, as it has been clarified earlier. If they [PTI] still have any kind of confusion, it will be cleared in the coming days,” the former federal minister added.