The government expressed disappointment over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) decision to call off ongoing negotiations and urged the former ruling party to reconsider its position as the negotiation deadline approaches keys.
In a statement on Thursday, Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson for the government’s negotiating committee, called the PTI’s decision “unfortunate” and pointed out that the January 28 deadline, which marks seven working days for the PTI’s demands , was still in force.
He further noted that the PTI had presented a series of requests to the government, but did not take time to consider the responses provided.
This change in PTI’s stance came after party chief Imran Khan, who remains in jail, expressed frustration over the government’s failure to establish a judicial commission within the seven-day deadline.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the lack of action on this demand, as well as the perceived lack of follow-up on previous commitments, led Imran Khan to declare that negotiations should end.
Siddiqui, speaking to media outside Parliament, discussed the progress of talks that began in late December to ease political tensions. He noted that the negotiations, which took place in three rounds, made limited progress on key issues.
The PTI’s main demands included the formation of two judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023 riots and incidents related to the PTI protests in Islamabad from November 24 to 27, 2024.
The government, Siddiqui continued, has worked diligently on these requests. A subcommittee, formed by the government and supported by seven allied parties, was preparing a written response.
However, he expressed confusion over the PTI’s hasty withdrawal, wondering why the party had chosen to suspend the talks when there were just days left before the deadline.
Siddiqui also defended the government’s actions throughout the process, highlighting its restraint in response to Imran Khan’s calls for civil disobedience and his activity on social media.
He urged the PTI to reconsider its decision and suggested that the party leadership, beyond Imran Khan’s influence, could still be open to constructive dialogue.
