PTI submits written ‘Charter of Demands’ to government in third round of talks
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf submitted on Thursday its ‘Charter of Demands’ to the government as the third round of negotiations concluded in Islamabad.
“The committee in seven working days will present its official version in the written form,” said the statement issued after the meeting on Thursday.
“During this, seven political parties in the government coalition will inform the opposition about the collective point of view after discussing with their leaders.”
Discussions between the PTI and the government began in the last week of December aimed at reducing political tensions. But despite several weeks of dialogue, progress on key issues such as the establishment of a judicial commission and the release of PTI detainees has been minimal.
Thursday’s meeting was facilitated by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and included six representatives from the opposition, among them three PTI leaders while the government was represented by eight officials.
Attendees from the opposition included Omar Ayub, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur; PTI MNA Asad Qaiser; Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza; Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief Senator Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri; and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.
In the latest round of talks, representatives of the government included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP MNAs Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar, Prime Minister’s political aide Rana Sanaullah, and MQM-P MNA Dr Farooq Sattar.
According to the statement, the opposition reiterated its demand for meeting Khan in a “free environment.” The government committee acknowledged it.
Three-page document was signed by the six opposition members present at the meeting.
The PTI outlined two primary demands: (i) the establishment of two judicial commissions and (ii) assistance from federal and provincial governments in securing bail, suspending sentences, and acquitting “political prisoners” identified by the PTI.
The letter emphasised that such demands are essential for broader negotiations concerning the restoration of the Constitution, the rule of law, respect for the people’s mandate, and the need for free and fair elections.
The opposition has urged the government to establish two Commissions of Inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017. They are requesting that these commissions be composed of either the Chief Justice of Pakistan or three current Supreme Court judges, who should be mutually nominated by both the PTI and the government within seven days.
The opposition emphasised that the proceedings of such commissions should be transparent and accessible to the public and media. They highlighted that the formation of these commissions is a crucial indicator of the government’s seriousness in addressing the issues at hand.
The letter warned that negotiations would not be able to proceed if the government does not agree in principle to the establishment of the two commissions promptly.
In addition to the commissions, the PTI called on the federal government and the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan to legally support the granting of bail and the suspension of sentences for all political prisoners arrested in connection with events on May 9, 2023, or between November 24 and 27, 2024, as well as any other political events.
More to follow…
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