Government Open to Middle Ground if PTI Joins Talks Today
ISLAMABAD: The government is reportedly willing to offer a middle ground if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) joins the scheduled talks today, despite the dialogue being called off by Imran Khan. Key government negotiators have hinted that PTI’s demands will not be outrightly rejected, but rather addressed through compromise.
Three members of the government’s negotiating team—Rana Sanaullah, Irfan Siddiqui, and Ejazul Haq—spoke to The News, indicating the possibility of concessions if PTI resumes the dialogue process.
PTI’s Key Demands
PTI has called for:
- Judicial Commission: To probe the May 9 and November 26 events.
- Grant of Bails: An end to the blocking of bail or suspension of convictions for political prisoners arrested during political events, including May 9 and November 24-27.
While the government maintains that judicial commissions cannot be formed on subjudice matters, it has proposed an alternative: the formation of a parliamentary committee to address these concerns.
Government’s Stance
- Rana Sanaullah: Criticized PTI for prematurely calling off the talks without hearing the government’s side. He argued that PTI’s civil disobedience and aggressive rhetoric continue, but the government has not barred them from protests. He questioned whether judges would agree to be part of commissions investigating May 9 and November 26 incidents.
- Irfan Siddiqui: Stressed that the government intends to offer PTI a middle ground. “Neither will we reject their demands outrightly, nor will we accept them entirely,” he said. He emphasized that dialogue could improve the current situation if PTI cooperates.
- Ejazul Haq: Expressed regret over PTI’s withdrawal from talks and reiterated the government’s preference for a parliamentary committee over a judicial commission for subjudice issues.
The Path Forward
The government’s negotiators remain hopeful that PTI will reconsider and rejoin the talks, providing an opportunity for both sides to find a resolution. The willingness to explore alternative solutions, such as parliamentary oversight, highlights the government’s intent to de-escalate tensions and proceed with a collaborative approach.
The ball is now in PTI’s court to decide whether to engage in dialogue or persist with its confrontational stance.