Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a government negotiating committee comprised of coalition members to engage in talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The formation of this committee follows statements made Saturday night by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who announced that National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had assured the formation of a government negotiating team.

Sadiq subsequently confirmed these statements, indicating that a request for the government to form a negotiating team had been made in response to the PTI’s own committee.

The committee, announced Sunday, includes Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister’s advisor Rana Sanaullah Khan and Senator Irfan Siddiqui from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar from Pakistan Peoples Party, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM, Abdul Aleem Khan (Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party), and Chaudhry Salik Hussain (Muslim League-Q).

Read more: PTI finalises demands for talks with govt

Prime Minister Sharif expressed hope that national security and the national interest will be prioritized during these negotiations. He stated, “If Pakistan exists, we all exist,” and commended the efforts of the National Assembly Speaker in facilitating these talks.