ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday welcomed the talks between the government and arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held in a “more cordial environment” and said the former ruling party would submit its “charter of demands” after consultation with its founder Imran Khan.
“We decided in the last meeting that PTI will present its charter of demands, but the opposition has demanded another meeting with [PTI founder] Imran Khan to draw up a list of demands and the next meeting will be held next week, hopefully,” Sadiq told reporters after the end of the second round of interviews.
Welcoming the meeting held in a cordial environment, he said that KP CM Gandapur also made “excellent suggestions and spoke with an open heart”.
“The conclusion of the talks was that all the participants decided to sit together for the betterment of Pakistan like economy, terrorism and any other issues,” he added.
The meeting was chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq in the Constitutional Committee Room of the House of Parliament as he facilitated and led the negotiations between the Finance Ministry and the Opposition.
PTI’s negotiating team was represented by NA Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Party General Secretary Salman Akram Raja Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Sunni Council Chief Ittehad (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza.
The government team includes Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Advisor to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Lawmaker Farooq Sattar Awami Party Lawmaker Khalid Mags.
Joint statement
Reading the joint declaration of the meeting, Senator Siddiqui said PTI’s Ayub and others presented their view in detail.
“They [PTI] demanded the release of jailed Imran Khan and their workers and formation of a judicial commission for the events of May 9, 2023 and November 26,” he said.
He further said that the opposition wants to meet the jailed PTI founder for consultation to draft a “charter of demands”. “They [PTI] have said that Imran has given the go-ahead to start this negotiation process… to continue the process in a positive way, Imran’s leadership is essential,” he added.
Siddiqui noted that the opposition agreed to submit the demand charter in written form after consulting the party founder. During the meeting, he said the government has no objection to the PTI committee meeting the jailed founder.
“It was agreed that the date of the third round of talks will be announced after the PTI committee meets Imran,” he concluded.
“Talks to End Bitterness”
Additionally, PTI MP Sher Afzal Marwat met the NA spokesperson ahead of the second round of government-opposition talks.
In an interview with a private television channel, Sadiq noted that “positive feedback” was coming from both sides and stressed that matters would be resolved when everyone sat at the negotiating table. “We are all Pakistanis… our priority is to speak for the betterment of the country and its people,” he added.
When asked, he said that the charter of democracy was discussed at the founding meeting and added that the negotiations “will end the bitterness”. “We will definitely raise the issues people are facing, the economy charter will also be discussed,” he added.
“I am here to facilitate […] the opposition and the government to present their respective demands,” he added.
On his part, Marwat welcomed the Army’s decision to pardon the convicts of May 19 and May 9, saying PTI fully expects the ongoing negotiations. “We want an end to political instability and insecurity in the country.”
Addressing the private Tv Channle in the parliament hall ahead of the session, KP CM Gandapur noted that their demands “are not in writing” but relevant documents will be shared with the government team.
In response to a question, he expressed optimism about positive progress in negotiations. “[Government] committee has been created, its existence proves that problems need to be solved,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Irfan Siddiqui – while talking to Geo News – said the government would consider the demands if they were submitted in writing.
“We will ask them how these demands can be met,” said Siddiqui, who is also the chairman of the government’s negotiating committee.
The senator added that how can prisoners be released in the presence of the constitution and the law.
“There is no such precedent in history of prisoners being released on the basis of an executive order,” he said, adding that PTI was also in the government and if release was possible, “they will definitely tell us”.
He noted that the former ruling party should guide the government to its demands and present a solution in the light of the constitution and the law. “If they convince us, we will gladly consider their demands,” he added.
First round of negotiations
After months of heightened political tension, the embattled former ruling party and government finally held the first round of dialogue last month.
After the meeting, which was held in an auspicious environment, the Imran Khan-founded party decided to submit its demands in writing to the government’s negotiating committee.
It was agreed that both sides are united in the fight against terrorism. Tributes were also paid to the martyrs for their sacrifice. There was also a statement of support to stand alongside the forces in the war against terrorism.
The talks between the government and the PTI follow the former ruling party’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if their demands for the release of all political prisoners – including PTI founder Imran Khan – and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the 9 riots and the November 26 incident remained unfilled.
The jailed former prime minister last month called on his supporters to launch an anti-government movement by withholding transfers in the first phase.
