PTI seeks more time for consultation as 3rd round of govt talks set for next week
Pakistan
PTI presents its list of demands to the government
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) committee presented its list of demands to the government as the second round of political dialogue, initiated last month to address political uncertainty in the country, concluded on Thursday.
Both sides held the first round of formal negotiations on December 23, with the Imran Khan’s party asked to bring its demands in writing in the next meeting on Jan 2.
According to a joint declaration after the meeting, the PTI presented demands for the release of all prisoners, including Imran Khan, and the formation of a judicial commission for the May 9 and November 26 incidents. PTI also requested more time for further consultations, and further negotiations will take place next week.
According to reports, the PTI delegation arrived at the Parliament House for negotiations, which included Omar Ayub, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Salman Akram Raja. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also took part in the talks.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, chaired the meeting of the negotiation committee. Other participants included Ishaq Dar, Aleem Khan, Farooq Sattar, Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Sanaullah, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Khalid Magsi and Ijazul Haq.
Speaking on the occasion, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that the third meeting would be held next week.
Ayaz Sadiq mentioned that the opposition presented some of its demands in the committee, and another meeting is required to finalise those demands.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), stated that after receiving the demands, it will take at least a week to form an opinion and respond. Once the opposition's demands are in written form, they will assess them and see what is being asked, he added.
He added that they must also consider the Constitution, law, and traditions, and determine what is possible and what is not.
Irfan Siddiqui said that Omar Ayub presented his perspective in detail, and the committee requested more consultation with the PTI founder. The formal charter of demands will be presented in the next meeting, which is scheduled for next week, he added.
Read also: PTI Reveals Initial Demands
On Tuesday this week, PTI leader Asad Qaiser revealed two key demands to be presented in a meeting with government’s negotiation committee on Jan 2.
Speaking to media outside the Peshawar High Court (PHC), he said the PTI would demand release of all party prisoners, including Imran Khan, and judicial investigation into May 9 and Nov 26 incidents.
Furthermore, Asad Qaiser said the cases registered against him were “fake and political revenge”. He said terrorism and sedition cases were being made against politicians.
