PTI, govt finally begin negotiation process with hopes of ‘positive outcome’

• NA speaker welcomes PM’s initiative to resolve issues through dialogue
• Qaiser says today’s session initial meeting where agenda will be outlined.
• Senator Irfan Siddiqui says govt expects good outcomes of the meeting.

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ISLAMABAD: The much-awaited talks between the government and the Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are finally underway in Islamabad after a brief delay.

Converging at the Parliament House on Monday, both sides are holding the dialogue with “hopes of a positive outcome” in a bid to ease the country’s political tensions.

The meeting, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, is being attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, and MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar.

PTI, meanwhile, is being represented by former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, in today’s session. 

Other members of party’s committee, who couldn’t attend the meeting include Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, senior PTI leader Hamid Khan. 

The gathering witnessed the recitation of Holy Quran, followed by prayers for betterment of country and success of dialogue before officially commencing the negotiation process. 

Ending an extended deadlock, based on initial the reluctance of both sides to move ahead with the negotiations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had on Sunday constituted a high-level committee comprising senior members of the coalition government to hold dialogue with the main opposition party.

The committee includes Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem Khan and Chaudhry Salik Hussain, besides Deputy PM Dar, Sanaullah, Senator Irfan, Ashraf and Qamar. 

The government members have stressed that talks won’t bear fruit if they are done under pressure as the former ruling party is yet to call off its currently postponed civil disobedience movement. 

The PTI’s committee for talks so far comprises Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, senior PTI leader Hamid Khan and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. 

‘Good outcomes expected’

Addressing the participants of the meeting, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the Prime Minister’s initiative to resolve issues through dialogue. He assured attendees that his office would always remain open to them and that the Speaker’s Secretariat would provide all necessary support in this regard.

Emphasising that progress could only be achieved through negotiations, Sadiq urged the forum to move forward with an open heart to advance the dialogue process.

“I will strive to remain impartial and provide the required support,” he stated, adding that the success of the talks ultimately depended on the committees representing both the government and the opposition.

“We are working to ensure the success of these discussions and to bring political stability to the country,” Sadiq concluded.

Earlier, PTI leader Asad Qaiser, while speaking to Geo News ahead of the meeting, revealed that two to three senior members of their negotiation team were unavailable for today’s meeting. He described the session as an initial meeting where the agenda will be outlined.

He emphasised that the release of their prisoners would be discussed, alongside a judicial inquiry into the November 26 incident.

Qaiser, the former NA speaker, highlighted the issues of law and order and economic challenges, adding that the country cannot continue on its current trajectory, which is leaning towards anarchy.

He stressed the need for political stability in the country and noted that opposition leader Ayub could not attend the meeting due to court appearances in Peshawar.

Senator Irfan remarked that their focus was currently one-sided, with no attention being paid to the other side. He expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations, saying that they were approaching the talks with an open mind and high expectations.

Siddiqui hoped the discussions would yield positive results, saying: “InshaAllah, we expect good outcomes.”

Speaking to the media, MQM-P Convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui stressed that negotiations must take place under all circumstances. He pointed out that the results of the talks would determine their future course of action.

Khalid, the federal minister for education, maintained that in a democracy, dialogue and negotiations are the only viable paths forward.

Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also spoke to the media, asserting that the establishment had a significant role in the current situation and that its support was instrumental in the negotiations.

Abbas, a key ally of the PTI, called on everyone to prioritise Pakistan’s interests. Abbas mentioned that the PTI founder advocated for the supremacy of the constitution and the law and never sought personal gains, such as demanding his release.

He emphasised that the PTI founder consistently stood for the rule of law. Abbas cautioned the government, calling this their last chance to improve the situation, and noted that sitting at the negotiation table would reveal the government’s true intentions.

‘Legitimate’ demands

The PTI’s protests have rocked Islamabad numerous times this year — two days in July, 30 days in August and September, six days in October, and three days in November — troubling the capital’s residents. They also cost the national exchequer billions.

Due to the protests, there were repeated calls for negotiations, with NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq recently saying that “dialogue is the only way” to move forward, while Gohar noted that “negotiations will take place as they are the only solution”. 

In a message on X, PTI said that party founder Khan has warned that the campaign will be launched if the government doesn’t make progress on the party’s “legitimate” demands by Sunday, the same day when the committee was formed. 

The party’s founding chairman had demanded the release of under-trial political prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission for a transparent investigation into the events of May 9 and November 26.

However, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said that time and circumstances brought those to the negotiation table who were unwilling to talk. But he cautioned that seeking sincerity in negotiations will be a “waste of time”.

Opposition ‘unity’

Moreover, sources told Geo News that the PTI founder has assigned KP CM’s Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Saif the task of uniting opposition parties.

The initiative aims to bring opposition parties together against the government’s undemocratic actions, according to the sources.

Barrister Saif has reportedly contacted several key leaders of opposition parties through telephone, the sources added.

An important meeting of opposition parties is expected to take place this week at the Chief Minister’s House, the insiders said. Additionally, the chief minister is likely to meet Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leaders Pir Pagara and Zulfiqar Mirza during the same week.

The plan includes taking leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and other parties into confidence, the sources confirmed.