The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf decided to start negotiations with the government after the November 26 protest failure, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday.

“There is no rocket science behind this [PTI’s decision to form a negotiation committee],” he said while appearing on the Aaj News programme Rubaroo via video link.

Sanaullah reiterated that the former ruling party’s protest was “politically not a good decision” as it had no plans after reaching the D-Chowk.

“I had said this call is wrong and this will be a missed call,” he said.

Since former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment last year on multiple charges, the relationship between the PTI and both the government and military establishment has soured significantly. The deterioration has been marked by protests that often turned violent amid government crackdowns.

In light of the unrest, Khan formed a five-member committee to engage in talks with “anyone,” indicating a change in the PTI’s parliamentary approach. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assembled a committee composed of ruling coalition members.

The first meeting between the government and PTI committees took place on December 23, marking the beginning of much-anticipated negotiations aimed at reducing political tensions in the country. It ended with the decision that Khan’s party would present its demands to the committee, which it would review and present to the prime minister.

Earlier in the day, the two sides met for the second round of meetings. The PTI could not present the ‘Charter of Demands’ as the party members sought access to meet Khan in jail to formulate such a request.

In response, Deputy PM Dar said that the government’s committee had no objection to the PTI’s request.

PTI leaders demanded the release of “political prisoners” including PTI founder Khan and other senior leaders. “They also said the government should not be an obstacle to PTI’s pleas for seeking bail,” said the official statement.

They reiterated their demand for the establishment of a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 to ascertain facts.

When asked if Khan could be released, the premier’s adviser said that the PTI founder was not in the government custody. “He [Khan] is not detained under preventive law that premier or executive officer can withdraw and he could be released,” Sanaullah said.

He added that cases were in judicial custody because of the cases registered against him. The premier’s adviser reiterated that Khan could be released by court.

“When the PTI committee will present demand in written form, we will respectfully tell them what is the legal position and it is aware of that. After this, it will be decided how matters will progress.”

In response to a question, he said that PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur, Salman Akram Raja, and Omar Ayub spoke “positively” in the meeting. He added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the most positive amongst them and called for the country’s development and democracy.

The PM’s adviser said that the KP chief minister does not want to clash with the government as it was not in favour of him or the party. “I have no doubt that the members of the committee want that this dialogue to be successful.”

Last month, Khan claimed that he was offered a deal that would allow him to remain under house arrest and transfer to Bani Gala. But he refused because it did not guarantee his supporters’ release. The KP chief minister also made such claims.

On the show, Sanaullah replied only Gandapur can speak about it as the government has not made any such offer.

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He was of the view that the formation of a judicial commission was not difficult, however, the real task is to decide its terms of reference. The premier’s adviser said that the PTI would inform the government about this after meeting Khan and similarly the government’s committee would consult its leaders on the proposal.

When asked what price the government would pay for accepting the demand, he said: “We cannot pay the price and no one should seek a price. We should focus what is practically possible and the opposition should also seek what we can achieve.”

Sanaullah added that the government wanted the opposition to cooperate with it for the country’s betterment and progress. “This cannot happen that we withdraw cases and they launch a long march. Matters will be open.”

He revealed that PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique was also the person who supported the dialogue with the opposition.