Adviser to the Prime Minister on Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, announced on Friday that the government is in the process of forming a committee to negotiate with the PTI. The members of this committee are expected to be named over the weekend.
Earlier in December, PTI leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan threatened a civil disobedience movement starting December 14, unless his demands regarding the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26 were met.
Imran Khan had also declared a five-member PTI negotiation team, which includes Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, and PTI MNA Asad Qaiser.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had offered to mediate the talks, extending an invitation for negotiations at his office and residence.
During his appearance on DawnNewsTV’s ‘Doosra Rukh’ program, Barrister Aqeel Malik confirmed that the government was preparing its own negotiation team, which would involve input from its allies. He stated that the committee could be formed by the weekend or early next week. While he did not disclose specific names, Malik mentioned that the committee would include senior government leaders and allies.
The adviser also noted that Speaker Sadiq had expressed willingness to host meetings between both parties. Malik suggested that the speaker’s chamber would be an ideal location for the negotiations, helping establish the terms and agenda for the discussions.
Regarding PTI’s civil disobedience threat, Malik remarked that PTI could not demand negotiations while simultaneously pressuring the government through coercive measures.
