Govt-PTI talks ignite fresh hopes

PTI demands immediate release of workers

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ISLAMABAD:

In a bid to cool the political heat, the PML-N-led ruling coalition and PTI broke the ice on Monday, finally sitting down at the table to untangle the knots that have kept the nation in political gridlock.

The PTI leadership verbally put its demands before the ruling coalition during the maiden session, held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The talks have set the stage for further discussions, with the next round slated for January 2.

The PTI delegation, led by former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser included Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

However, the absence of key PTI heavyweights—including opposition leader Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja—did not go unnoticed.

Their no-show was reportedly due to court commitments and international travel.

On the government side, senior leaders from the ruling coalition including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM's Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar and MQM-P's Farooq Sattar participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, PTI outlined its initial demands, which included the immediate release of its jailed workers and PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of the May 9 and November 26 crackdowns and permission to communicate with Imran Khan to ensure meaningful progress in the dialogue.

The government side proposed that PTI present its grievances and proposals in writing to facilitate focused discussions in the next meeting.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed optimism, saying both sides engaged with "positive intentions" and hoped for productive outcomes.

In his media interaction, PTI's Asad Qaiser revealed that the party's leadership has agreed to draft a "charter of demands" which will be presented formally in the next session.

"The actual negotiations will begin next month. Today's meeting was an initial discussion," he said. He reiterated PTI has put its demands before the committee, saying "We will present the charter of demands on January 2".

At the outset of the meeting between the government and PTI, NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq lauded the seriousness of both sides, underscoring the importance of high-level engagement.

The speaker reiterated that political stability and economic prosperity depend on constructive dialogue.

"To bring about improvement in Pakistan," Sadiq said, "political polarization is being eliminated inside and outside Parliament."

An official statement issued by the NA secretariat following the meeting quoted the speaker saying that several things were discussed about the past, present and future in Monday's meeting, adding, "We all have to work together for the betterment of Pakistan".

He added that we all have to pledge together that we will make efforts for the betterment of Pakistan.

Imran's fate hangs in balance

Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah, the PM's political aide, dismissed speculation about the need for guarantors, asserting that both sides were participating with an open heart.

"Political dialogue means sitting together, listening and finding a middle ground. It's not about one side accepting 100% of the other's demands," he said.

Sanaullah also highlighted the PML-N's longstanding commitment to a "charter of democracy" and "charter of economy" as solutions to national challenges.

SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza reportedly told the media that the opposition side was entering talks with an open mind and heart but it would not back off from its demands.

Imran Khan will be kept in the loop on all the developments, he added.

He, however, refrained from commenting further, saying he didn't want to say anything that could affect talks.

Despite the positive environment, the talks face key hurdles, especially with PTI's insistence on Imran Khan's release.

The government's stance on the critical demand remains uncertain, particularly as Imran's legal troubles continue to mount. A verdict in the high-profile £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, involving both Imran and his wife, is expected on January 6.

Nevertheless, the initiation of dialogue reflects a shift in political dynamics, as both sides appear willing to explore a negotiated solution to the impasse. PTI's softened stance in Parliament, coupled with Imran Khan's directive to form a five-member negotiation team, prompted the government to reciprocate by forming its own committee.

The second meeting is scheduled for January 2 when PTI leadership is expected to table its charter of demand. The ruling coalition will then scrutinise PTI's charter of demands and further deliberations will determine the trajectory of the dialogue.

Both sides have expressed optimism, but the real test lies in their ability to bridge deep political divides and prioritize national interests over partisan agendas.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq cautioned against excessive speculation about the outcome, urging all stakeholders to focus on the larger goal of strengthening democracy and addressing Pakistan's pressing challenges.

"If we join our heads and work together, we can improve the democratic process and tackle the issues facing Pakistan," he said.

Political analysts believe the success of these talks could pave the way for broader political consensus, potentially easing tensions and leading to bringing much-needed political and economic stability to the country.

 

 

PM visits president

The significance of the first round of talks can be gauged from the fact that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rushed to President Asif Ali Zardari hours after the meeting and discussed the govt-PTI dialogue as well as the overall political situation in the country.

The premier has expressed hope that positive progress would be made in the talks for the larger good of the country, saying the country's interests come first and national security should be kept above everything else.

In the meeting at the presidency, the PM was accompanied by Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Governor K-P Faisal Karim Kundi, ex-PM Raja Pervez Ashraf and MNA Naveed Qamar.

The discussion centred around the overall political, economic and security situation, an official statement said, adding the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together for the nation's development and prosperity.

It added that they also discussed in detail the legislative matters in Parliament, adding President Zardari assured PM Shehbaz of his continued support and cooperation for the progress and stability of the country.

The official statement said that they agreed to move forward with legal reforms and decisions through consultations with all political stakeholders.