RAWALPIDNI: The negotiation committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has set January 31, 2025 timeframe for the ongoing negotiations with the government to reach a “logical conclusion”, reiterating the demands of judicial probe into May 9 riots and November 26 late-night crackdown and release of “political prisoners”.
“PTI founder [Imran Khan] is ready to forgive everyone for all the ill-treatment he has suffered for the sake of Pakistan,” Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza said while speaking to journalists after meeting the incarcerated former prime minister.
The PTI negotiators briefed Imran on the first round of talks, held on Monday, and consulted him on future strategy, sources told Geo News.
After months of heightened political tensions, the embattled former ruling party and the government finally held their first round of dialogue this week.
The inaugural meeting, on the government’s part, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar.
Whereas, the PTI was represented by former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
The two sides are set to hold the second session on January 2, when the PTI will present its demands before the government panel in written.
The government-PTI talks are being held in the wake of the former ruling party’s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if their demands of release of all political prisoners — including Khan — and the formation of a judicial commission for investigating the May 9 riots and the November 26 incident, go unmet.
The jailed former prime minister had last month called on his supporters to launch the anti-government movement by withholding remittances in the first phase.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.