No talks without Imran's blessing: PTI

PML-N stalwart Rana Sanaullah also says that the government has not received any formal communication from the PTI

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ISLAMABAD:

In an apparent about-face, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday pulled back from its earlier stance on initiating talks with the government, with several party leaders clarifying that formal negotiations have not yet commenced.

They said that the process will only kick off once jailed PTI founder Imran Khan gives the green light.

Adding to the confusion, PML-N stalwart Rana Sanaullah also said that the government has not received any formal communication from the PTI regarding the initiation of dialogue, despite PTI's claims of forming a negotiations committee for this purpose.

Sanaullah, taking a swipe at PTI's mixed messaging and its historical preference for engaging with the establishment over civilian leadership, said, "PTI's stance towards the government still seems to be the same: 'Why should we engage in talks with you?'"

It all started on December 11 when the ruling PML-N and opposition PTI agreed to open formal communication channels – a move that aimed to replace confrontation with constructive dialogue, addressing long-standing issues and seeking to steady the ship of political stability.

The stalemate was broken when PTI leader Asad Qaiser and Salman Akram Raja met National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to offer condolences for his sister's death. Both the incumbent and former NA speakers had agreed that it was time to put their heads together.

They had proposed forming committees to sit down and hash out the thorny issues in the parliament that have repeatedly put a wedge between the two parties.

On the same day, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had also conditionally expressed willingness for dialogue via parliament and emphasized that the offer of talks shouldn't be construed as a weakness.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had positively responded by saying it was encouraging to see the opposition finally using parliament for discussing issues rather than confrontation.

However, on Friday, Qaiser while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly backtracked from his earlier statement by saying he had only gone to the NA speaker to offer Fatiha, adding talks would only begin when Imran Khan gives a go-ahead.

Apart from the PTI founding chairman's signal, he said that the PTI negotiation committee will begin when the government side feels like sitting across the table.

"There has been talk of dialogue and negotiations in the media since yesterday," Qaiser said, "I only went to the Speaker to offer Fateha." Qaiser added, "I want to clarify that these reports are false. A committee has been formed. Talks will take place when the government agrees." In his speech, he questioned, why fire was opened on November 26 when PTI was protesting in the capital's Blue Area.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly while talking to media in Rawalpindi also clarified that no talks have started between the government and PTI yet, reiterating that the PTI members had only gone to NA Speaker to offer condolences the other day.

In addition, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat while talking to a private media outlet seconded other PTI leaders that no formal talks have begun yet. He, however, said that it would have been better if both sides had sat across the table before December 15 amid the turbulent political scene as otherwise, PTI would have followed Imran Khan's call to launch a civil disobedient movement.

Marwat said that Imran Khan has only constituted the committee but hasn't yet ordered it to begin talks with the government, saying it wasn't the right time to begin negotiations as workers were still reeling from the November 26 aftermath and talking with the government in this scenario would demoralize party workers.

In response to different statements by PTI leaders, PML-N senior leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui said on Friday that PTI will have to shun its deceptive approach if it is interested in serious talks.

While warning the PTI against adopting a deceptive approach, Senator Siddiqui said, "The PTI will have to decide whether it wants talks or civil disobedience." In a statement on social media platform X, Siddiqui said that the party was desperate for negotiations with an ulterior motive of securing concessions.

But at the same time, he said, it was planning to launch civil disobedience with the sole purpose of inflicting harm on Pakistan, adding that negotiations and civil disobedience cannot go hand in hand. "If PTI is serious about negotiations, it should not add new burdens on its shoulders. The previous burden is already enough," he said.

Surprising as it may seem, the proposal of talks had surfaced in a bid to create an "atmosphere of reconciliation" and to defuse prevailing political tensions in the country amid PTI's civil disobedience threat. However, clarifications have started to come even before the talks could formally begin.