Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seems to adopt a wait-and-see policy amid a dialogue with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling coalition as it is taking time in presenting its charter of demands in black and white, citing that instructions from incarcerated party's founding chairman has yet to be passed on.
However, it is leant that the party is delaying the process for the reason that it wants to see the judgement in £190 million reference that is scheduled to be announced on January 6.
The much-awaited second meeting between the two sides couldn't go beyond the PTI's previously tabled verbal demands that seek immediate release of jailed workers and ex-PM Imran Khan, formation of a judicial commission to investigate May 9 and November 26 incidents and access to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan for finalization of charter of demands.
Background discussions with party leaders from both sides revealed that the PTI had delayed its plan to submit written demands to assess the government's flexibility in allowing PTI leaders an access to the jailed leader and outcome of National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) corruption reference against Khan and others, including his wife.
The government-PTI meeting was held at the Parliament House and chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The PTI delegation included Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI secretary general Salman Akram Raja.
On the government side, senior leaders from the ruling coalition, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM's Adviser Rana Sanaullah, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar, MQM-P's Dr Farooq Sattar, IPP's Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan, BAP's Khalid Hussain Magsi and PML-Z's Ijazul Haq attended the meeting.
An official statement released after the meeting stated that opposition leader as well as PTI negotiation committee's head Omar Ayub and other members expressed their point of view about the on-going talks and political situation, saying they demanded that Imran Khan, party leaders and workers be released. "The government should not stand in the way of obtaining bails," it read.
The PTI side reiterated its demand of judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 incidents so that complete facts could surface. The statement added that PTI committee informed the other side that it should be allowed to meet, consult and seek guidance from Khan in order to present its charter of demands before the government.
The committee maintained that Khan had given permission to begin talks with the government and his instructions were crucial in order to move forward. Following the meeting and consultations with Khan, the PTI committee assured that it would formally submit its charter of demands in the next meeting.
Subsequently, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar said that the government was expecting that PTI's negotiation committee would present its demands, as decided in the previous meeting, so that the process could be taken to the next step. However, Dar said the government has no objection on the delay, saying the PTI committee may meet Khan and finalise its charter of demands so that both sides could move ahead.
It was decided, the statement read, the date of the third meeting of both the committees would take place next week after PTI committee's meeting with Khan.
Meanwhile, NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq praised the positive and cordial atmosphere of the meeting, expressing hope that all parties involved would continue the discussions in a constructive manner.
The speaker highlighted his role as a facilitator and suggested that Pakistan's pressing issues, including terrorism and the economy, should also be discussed within the committee. "We are all Pakistanis and it is our collective responsibility to resolve the nation's problems," he said, underlining the need for cooperation to find solutions to the country's challenges. He reiterated, "We must all play our part in solving these issues."
Earlier, while talking to media, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said that the process of negotiations is long and nothing happens in just two meetings, saying PTI will listen to the government and also speak its mind in talks.
Similarly, Ayub, while responding to a question if actual talks were taking place somewhere else, said that the lawmakers were members of parliament and holding talks there.
The long-awaited talks between the two sides had started on December 23, 2024, to bring down high political temperature. Though high hopes are attached to government-PTI talks, things haven't gone beyond verbal discussions so far in the first two meetings.
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 the parliament, coupled with Imran Khan's directive to form a five-member negotiation team, had prompted the government to reciprocate by forming its own committee.
Once PTI presents its charter of demand, the ruling coalition will then scrutinize it 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.
Despite the positive environment, the talks face significant hurdles, especially with PTI's insistence on Imran Khan's release. The government's stance on this 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.
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