Government rejects PTI's demand for May 9 judicial commission

Ongoing cases cited as reason for rejecting PTI’s request for May 9 investigations.

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The federal government has formally rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demand for the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, citing legal and procedural constraints, Express News reported on Monday.

According to government insiders, the negotiation committee reviewed PTI’s written charter of demands submitted during the third round of talks, ultimately deciding against the formation of a judicial commission.

Officials argue that cases related to May 9 incidents are already being prosecuted in courts, making additional inquiries redundant.

"Judicial commissions cannot be constituted for matters under active legal proceedings," said a senior official, dismissing PTI’s claims of unlawful detentions and political prisoners.

The PTI had submitted a detailed list of demands, including the creation of two separate commissions under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017.

The first commission was to investigate the legality of Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 and assess the circumstances leading to his detention.

The second was aimed at probing the subsequent violence, including attacks on military installations, desecration of memorials, and damage to public property.

PTI also sought transparency by requesting that commission proceedings be open to the public and media. It called for the immediate release of political leaders and workers detained in connection with the incidents.

The government has categorically stated that the incidents of May 9 were part of a "premeditated plan to target military installations," highlighting attacks on the General Headquarters and the Lahore Corps Commander’s house.

The government maintains that these acts of vandalism and arson were not spontaneous protests but deliberate attempts to undermine state institutions.

Sources confirm that the government’s negotiation team will provide a formal written response to PTI in the fourth round of talks. However, the rejection of a judicial commission is expected to deepen the rift between the two sides.

Amid reports of a finalised government response, Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation team, denied the claims, calling them “baseless.” In a statement on social media, Siddiqui clarified, “The coalition parties are still consulting, and a unified response may take another week to finalise.”

He dismissed speculation that the government has rejected PTI’s demands without further deliberation, urging media outlets to avoid spreading misinformation.

The PTI had issued an ultimatum, demanding the formation of the commissions within seven days. With the deadline nearing, party leaders have warned of halting further talks if progress is not made. "If the government doesn’t establish the commission, there will be no fourth meeting," said PTI representatives.

Meanwhile, the government insists that dialogue can only proceed within the legal framework. This firm stance has added to the growing uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the negotiations, with both sides refusing to compromise.

Uphold national interest in talks with PTI, Nawaz tells PM

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Sunday exhorted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to keep the national interest supreme in the ongoing negotiations with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

According to a statement issued by the ruling party, Shehbaz briefed the former prime minister and his elder brother about the talks process, besides other important issues, including the current political and economic situation of the country.

According to Express News, the meeting took place in Jati Umra, which was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The meeting lasted for two hours, the report said, adding that Nawaz stressed the need for national unity in the present circumstances.

"We all have to work together for the country," Nawaz said during the meeting, according to Express News. Regarding talks with the PTI, Nawaz told Shehbaz Sharif to keep the country's interest above all in the negotiations.

According to the PML-N statement, important political and national issues were discussed in the meeting and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed Nawaz Sharif about the country's political and economic situation and consulted him on important issues.

During the discussions, the top-most PML-N leadership was informed that the government's efforts to address the country's economic woes had borne fruit and the inflation had significantly decreased. "The meeting was informed that the situation is moving in a positive direction," the statement said.