Govt calls PTI's decision to end talks 'unfortunate'

The government has expressed disappointment over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) decision to call off ongoing negotiations and urged the former ruling party to reconsider its stance as the deadline for key negotiations approaches.

In a statement on Thursday, Irfan Siddiqui, a spokesperson for the government's negotiation committee, called PTI’s move “unfortunate” and stressed that the deadline of January 28, marking seven working days for PTI’s demands, was still in play.

He further noted that PTI had presented a set of demands to the government, but had not taken the time to consider the responses provided.

This shift in PTI’s position came after the party’s leader, Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated, expressed frustration over the government's failure to establish a judicial commission within the seven-day period.

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that the lack of action on this demand, along with a perceived lack of follow-through on earlier commitments, led Imran Khan to declare that negotiations should be ended.

Siddiqui, speaking to the media outside Parliament, reflected on the course of talks that began in late December to ease political tensions. He noted that the negotiations, which have seen three rounds, have made limited progress on key matters.

PTI’s primary demands included the formation of two judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023 riots and incidents related to PTI’s protests in Islamabad from November 24 to November 27, 2024.

The government, Siddiqui continued, had been working diligently on these demands. A sub-committee, formed by the government and supported by seven allied parties, had been preparing a written response.

However, he expressed confusion over PTI’s hasty retreat, questioning why the party chose to suspend talks with only days remaining until the deadline.

Siddiqui also defended the government’s actions throughout the process, highlighting its restraint in response to Imran Khan’s civil disobedience calls and social media activity.

He urged PTI to reconsider its decision and suggested that the party’s leadership, beyond Imran Khan’s influence, might still be open to constructive dialogue.