With the government yet to decide on the formation of a judicial commission, senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub announced on Wednesday that the opposition party will not participate in the upcoming fourth round of talks with the ruling alliance. His statement came shortly after PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson of the government’s negotiating team, announced that the fourth round of talks between the ruling alliance and the embattled PTI would be held on January 28. He further said that the government is yet to decide on the judicial commission, which is one of PTI’s key demands for the resumption of talks. The PTI finally submitted its demands in writing during the third round of talks held on 16 January, seeking an investigation into the events of 9 May 2023 and 26 November 2024, as well as the release of “political prisoners”. The ‘PTI Charter of Demands’, seen by Geo News, also mentioned that unless the government sets up two separate action commissions, the party will not go ahead with talks. In a statement today, Ayub said: “The establishment of a judicial commission is necessary before the fourth round of negotiations.” They say they will not sit down at the negotiating table with the government until a judicial commission is formed. “The PTI founder has issued clear instructions [in this regard],” he added.
