The government has expressed disappointment over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) decision to halt ongoing talks, urging the party to reassess its position as the deadline for critical negotiations draws near.
In a statement released on Thursday, Irfan Siddiqui, a spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, described PTI’s move as “unfortunate.” He reminded the public that the January 28 deadline, which provides PTI with seven working days to address its demands, was still in effect.
Siddiqui pointed out that while PTI had laid out a set of demands, the party had not fully considered the responses provided by the government.
PTI’s decision to end negotiations followed frustration expressed by party leader Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated. Imran Khan was upset by the government’s failure to establish a judicial commission within the agreed-upon seven-day period.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, PTI’s chairman, explained that the lack of progress on this issue, along with unmet previous commitments, prompted Imran Khan to call for an end to the discussions.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Siddiqui reviewed the ongoing talks that began in late December, aimed at resolving political tensions. He acknowledged that while three rounds of talks had been held, progress on key issues remained limited.
PTI’s main demands included the formation of two judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023 riots and the PTI protests that took place in Islamabad between November 24 and November 27, 2024.
Siddiqui explained that the government had been working diligently on these demands, with a sub-committee, supported by seven allied parties, drafting a written response.
However, he questioned why PTI chose to abruptly end talks when only a few days remained before the deadline. He also defended the government’s actions during the talks, noting its restraint in the face of Imran Khan’s calls for civil disobedience and his social media statements.
Siddiqui appealed to PTI to reconsider its decision, suggesting that the party’s leadership, excluding Imran Khan, might still be open to constructive discussions.
