PTI withdraws electoral mandate demand: Sanaullah

Despite withdrawing demand, PTI's position on inquiry commissions and other issues stays firm, says PM's advisor.

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Rana Sanaullah, the political advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, announced Thursday that after extensive negotiations, PTI has withdrawn its demand for the return of its electoral mandate.

Sanaullah revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee to address the written demands submitted by the opposition. The committee will work closely with the government’s allied parties and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to ensure a comprehensive response to PTI's requests.

The third round of talks between the two sides took place on Thursday, where PTI’s delegation, led by senior leaders including Omar Ayub, formally presented their written demands.

One of the primary demands raised by PTI in these negotiations was the establishment of two inquiry commissions—one to investigate the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, which led to nationwide unrest, and another to probe incidents between November 24 and November 27, 2024.

The demand includes investigating the police and military involvement in Imran Khan's arrest and the subsequent violence, as well as examining CCTV footage related to the events of May 9.

In a joint press briefing with Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Sanaullah mentioned that the PTI's other significant demand revolved around the political cases filed against party leaders and supporters. The PTI requested access to detailed records of the FIRs filed against political activists, but the government claimed that no such details had been provided by PTI during the talks.

While PTI had previously insisted on the return of its mandate through new elections, Rana Sanaullah confirmed that the opposition party had stepped back from this demand, marking a shift in their stance.

He added that despite the withdrawal of the mandate demand, PTI's position on other matters, including the inquiry commissions, remained firm.

PTI had also previously raised concerns about "political cases" being fabricated against its members, a claim that led to further discussions on the issue.

In his briefing, Rana Sanaullah clarified that the government had set up a committee that would engage with the opposition to finalize a response, with the outcome being binding.

The committee’s formation came after PTI had submitted its written demands for the first time. This third round of negotiations was expected to address some of the critical issues that have kept Pakistan in a prolonged political deadlock.

Omar Ayub, PTI's key negotiator, also remarked during the media interaction that the government had committed to providing a response within seven days.

He stated that the government had agreed to arrange a meeting between the PTI leadership and Imran Khan to take the discussions forward.

Ayub emphasized that while the talks were ongoing, PTI remained optimistic about resolving the country's political crisis and restoring normalcy.

In addition to these developments, PTI's senior leader Asad Qaiser and other party members raised concerns about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, specifically regarding the region's destabilization.

He argued that given the complex situation in the province, it was crucial to engage in dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to address these issues comprehensively.

Meanwhile, Mahmood Achakzai, a senior politician, called for national unity, urging all political institutions and forces to align themselves with the Constitution and work together to safeguard Pakistan’s future.

He emphasized that the country could only be saved if everyone followed the principles laid out in the Constitution, and those opposing it would be held accountable.

The talks between the government and PTI are aimed at resolving the ongoing political crisis, but as of now, no substantial breakthrough has occurred.

The government has indicated its willingness to consider the opposition's concerns, but the situation remains fluid, with both sides awaiting further developments.