Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza said on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would formally allow the government until January 31 to complete ongoing negotiations.

“The cut-off date for negotiations is January 31,” Raza told reporters outside the Adiala Jail after meeting PTI founder Imran Khan. “On January 2, when our committee meets the government to continue the negotiations, Omar Ayub will formally give them this deadline.”

Following the February elections, candidates supported by the PTI encountered challenges in joining any registered political party with the Election Commission of Pakistan. In response, Khan directed his successful candidates in the national, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab assemblies to align with the SIC, a PTI ally.

Since the PTI founder’s imprisonment last year on various charges, relations between the PTI and both the government and military establishment have soured, resulting in frequent protests that sometimes escalated into violence amid state repression.

In light of the crisis, Khan formed a five-member committee tasked with engaging in discussions with all parties, indicating a new approach for PTI lawmakers in parliament. In turn, PM Shehbaz Sharif also established a committee, including members of the ruling coalition, to address the situation.

The first meeting between the two committees took place on Monday, initiating much-anticipated discussions aimed at reducing political tensions. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan revealed that the former PM has requested a timeline for the negotiations, during which some progress is expected. Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah responded positively, indicating that the government would accommodate this request.

“This is the first time since 1971 that a political party has faced such victimization. The PTI’s fundamental rights have been suspended, our members have endured torture, and our civil and human rights have been undermined,” Raza said.

He reiterated that the party’s call to halt remittances would continue until their grievances are addressed.