The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed its willingness to prolong the deadline for negotiations with the government, moving beyond the previously set date of January 31.

“The deadline is still 20 days away, and by then, we will have a clearer understanding of the direction the talks are taking,” PTI leader Shibli Faraz said while appearing on Dusra Rukh which was aired on Dawn News TV on Friday.

“The discussions could extend beyond January 31. It is not a big deal.”

This announcement came from PTI leadership following a meeting last month with the party’s imprisoned founder, Imran Khan.

To date, there have been two rounds of discussions between the committees established by both the PTI and the government to facilitate these talks.

The PTI has demanded the release of “political prisoners” including party founder Imran Khan and a judicial investigation into the protests that took place on May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024.

Negotiations between the PTI and the government appear to have encountered difficulties since their last meeting on January 2. The former ruling party has sought “unfettered” and “unmonitored” access to Khan which the government believes is “unusual” considering the jail environment.

But there was a breakthrough when Khan allowed his party leaders to submit written demands to the government.

Shibli Faraz, the Senate opposition leader, noted that if there are “positive developments in the negotiations, a brief extension of the deadline would not present a significant challenge.

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Earlier this week, PTI negotiation committee spokesperson Sahibzada Hamid Raza said that the fourth round of negotiations with the government would “only” start after the formation of the judicial commission on May 9 events.

“Imran Khan said if the government does not allow you to meet with me then you can hold a third meeting,” he said while appearing on the Aaj News programme News Insight with Amir Zia on Thursday.

“But we want to clear it that the fourth meeting will be held if the government forms a judicial commission. If the government wants to play with meetings, then we will say sorry.”