The first round of talks between committees representing the government and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began on Monday, marking the start of long-awaited negotiations aimed at reducing the ongoing political tensions between the two parties.
Earlier this month, PTI’s founder and former prime minister Imran Khan announced the formation of a party committee to engage in discussions with any political group. Following this, and based on the recommendation of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a committee composed of members from the ruling coalition.
The session today was chaired by the National Assembly Speaker, with nine members of the government committee attending. Notable participants included senior leaders such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Foreign Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Senator Irfan Siddiqui from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as well as members from the PPP, MQM-P, and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP). However, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Balochistan Awami Party’s Sardar Khalid Magsi were absent from the meeting.
On the PTI side, the committee was represented by former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Senator Raja Nasir Abbas. PTI’s broader committee also included high-profile figures such as Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur, and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, though some senior members were unable to attend.
As the talks commenced, PTI emphasized two main demands: the release of political prisoners associated with the party and a judicial investigation into the May 9 riots and the November 26 crackdown. Qaiser stated that the party would also seek the release of Imran Khan.
In a statement to the media, NA Speaker Sadiq expressed optimism about the meeting, highlighting the presence of senior leaders as a sign of commitment to finding a solution. The discussions are expected to focus on these key issues, with both sides hoping for productive results.
Interestingly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had been a part of past government committees for political dialogue, was absent from this round of talks. Despite the tensions between the government and PTI, particularly since Imran Khan’s incarceration, this dialogue marks a crucial step towards addressing the longstanding political challenges in Pakistan.
In parallel, Imran Khan has tasked Barrister Saif with uniting opposition parties and strengthening negotiations with the aim of bringing them together under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Gandapur.
