Pakistan Govt-PTI Talks Begin: Agreement Reached on Consulting Imran Khan

Political negotiations gain momentum as both sides agree on consulting PTI founder Imran Khan amid ongoing political tensions.

Islamabad [Pakistan], December 24: In a significant step towards resolving Pakistan’s political tensions, the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began formal negotiations at Parliament House in Islamabad. Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a key member of the government’s negotiation committee, confirmed that the government has agreed to PTI’s demand to consult their incarcerated founder, Imran Khan, as reported by Geo News.

Speaking during a televised interview, Senator Irfan Siddiqui emphasized the importance of these talks in addressing the nation’s political instability and economic uncertainty.

“People want peace and democratic norms rather than anarchy and economic instability in the country,” Siddiqui stated.

No Interference in Judicial Matters

Siddiqui also addressed concerns regarding the deferment of the verdict in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan and his wife. He clarified that the government is not involved in judicial decisions and stressed that the negotiations remain separate from ongoing court cases.

Next Round Scheduled for January 2

The second phase of discussions is set to take place on January 2, with both sides agreeing to maintain confidentiality and avoid public statements that could disrupt the dialogue.

“We want a logical conclusion of the talks. We told them [PTI] to present their demand in the shape of a charter of demand,” Siddiqui said, adding that the government will carefully review PTI’s proposals once they are submitted in writing.

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Optimism from Both Sides

Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, chief of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and a participant in the talks, expressed optimism about the negotiations.

“I have witnessed many positive things during the meeting summoned by the incumbent government,” Abbas remarked.

He stressed the importance of arranging a direct meeting between Imran Khan and PTI’s negotiation committee, viewing it as a positive step towards meaningful dialogue.

“It is necessary to arrange a meeting between the PTI committee and Imran Khan, which would exhibit a positive approach by the government,” Abbas added.

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Key Attendees and Future Steps

The meeting saw participation from prominent figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, and Senator Irfan Siddiqui. On the PTI side, the committee was led by former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Raja Nasir Abbas.

While not all PTI committee members could attend, the opposition has committed to submitting their demands in writing to the government for further consideration.

Both sides remain cautiously optimistic, with hopes that the ongoing talks will pave the way for political stability and constructive resolutions in Pakistan.