The federal government has announced that the fourth round of negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiating committees will take place on January 28, during which key issues will be reviewed. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah confirmed that a sub-committee has been formed to evaluate PTI’s Charter of Demands (CoD) and prepare an official response. “We will present our position on PTI’s demands during the next round of talks,” he said. Responding to PTI chairman Barrister Gohar’s ultimatum to form a judicial commission within seven days, Sanaullah said, “PTI can raise its demands but we will not issue a written reply to them. The government team met and discussed PTI’s demands in the Speaker’s Chamber of the National Assembly with all its allied parties, which witnessed opposition to the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots. Senator Irfan Siddiqui said the government has not yet formed an opinion on the demands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). “Talks will continue and we hope there will be an improvement,” said ruling committee spokesman Irfan Siddique. Internal preparations of the government Law Minister Nazir Tarar and the Attorney General briefed the government’s negotiating committee about PTI’s demands and the possibility of forming a judicial commission. However, sources revealed that the government is against the formation of a judicial commission at this stage, despite calls for a written reply from PTI. Farooq Sattar urges media to exercise restraint Member of the government negotiation committee Dr. Farooq Sattar spoke briefly to the media after the meeting but refrained from divulging details. “I cannot share what was discussed in the meeting. It is essential to avoid involving the media in order to ensure the progress of the negotiations,” he said. As the two sides prepare for the fourth round of talks, all eyes remain on how the government will deal with the PTI’s demands and whether the talks will yield a breakthrough amid heightened political tensions.
