PM Meets Ayaz Sadiq to Discuss PTI Dialogue Breakdown
ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday, following Mr. Sadiq’s discussions with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The talks focused on the situation after the collapse of government negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
A government source informed Dawn that the prime minister was advised to dissolve the dialogue committee that had been set up to facilitate negotiations with PTI.
The opposition party had walked away from the talks, citing the government’s failure to meet its demands, including the creation of two separate judicial commissions to investigate incidents from May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of detained PTI leaders and workers.
Despite the recommendation, PM Shehbaz has yet to issue formal orders to disband the committee, which has remained inactive since PTI withdrew from discussions.
“We’ve urged the prime minister to dissolve the committee as it was formed by him. We believe PTI will not return to the talks anytime soon, as it has reverted to its strategy of street protests to achieve its goals,” said Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the committee’s spokesperson, speaking to Dawn. “The committee is no longer functional, but the prime minister has not dissolved it yet,” he added.
The prime minister visited Sadiq’s residence in Lahore on Sunday, officially to congratulate the deputy speaker on his son’s wedding. However, sources indicated that the stalled PTI dialogue was also discussed.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz was briefed on PTI’s unexpected withdrawal after three rounds of talks. PTI had issued a seven-day deadline for the formation of judicial commissions, a demand that went unmet, leading to their decision to end the negotiations.
The talks, which began in December, were aimed at easing political tensions but failed to produce significant results. PTI had threatened to exit the talks over the judicial commission issue, prompting PM Shehbaz to offer the formation of a parliamentary committee three days ago to keep the dialogue alive. PTI, however, rejected this proposal.
PM Shehbaz also emphasized Pakistan’s improving economic indicators, highlighting growing investor confidence and cooperation between federal and provincial governments to address public welfare concerns.
Mohsin-Ayaz Meeting
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also met with Ayaz Sadiq in Islamabad on Sunday to discuss PTI’s behavior during the failed talks and the overall political situation in the country.
According to the Ministry of Interior, both leaders expressed disappointment over PTI’s stance, despite what they called the government’s positive efforts to facilitate dialogue.
Minister Naqvi praised Mr. Sadiq for his efforts to bridge the gap between government and opposition parties, acknowledging his role in fostering collaboration. The two teams involved in the negotiations included representatives from various political parties. The government side comprised PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, PML-Z, and the Balochistan Awami Party, while the opposition team included PTI, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, and Sunni Ittehad Council members.
