The opposition is expected to submit its response to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for talks later today (Wednesday) as the key leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf held a debate on the talks offer to end the prevailing political tensions.

According to sources, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas are expected to formally convey their response later on Thursday.

The opposition consultations focused on strategy and possible decisions regarding the proposed dialogue process, the sources said.

The meeting, chaired by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, reviewed the prime minister’s offer of talks and discussed the prospects of negotiations between the government and the opposition.

The sources said the meeting was attended by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Nasir Abbas and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, while PTI Chairman Salman Akram Raja joined the discussion via audio link.

Participants deliberated on the approach and potential outcomes of the negotiation process.

The sources said that the PTI leadership has already conveyed its position to Mahmood Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas on the talks offer.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has previously said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai could hold negotiations if he has the mandate to do so, noting that PTI founder Imran Khan had also named him in this regard.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been consistently inviting the PTI for talks and expressed hope that any dialogue would prove positive and productive.

Pointing out that talks usually move forward on a “give-and-take” basis, Khawaja Asif said there appeared to be limited space for negotiations in PTI’s political strategy, adding that Imran Khan has always focused on his own political interests.

According to the defence minister, the government has been making talks offer for quite some time, and it is now up to the PTI leadership to decide whether it wants to engage in dialogue.

Khawaja Asif’s remarks carried importance as Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has recently said that any party leader advocating negotiations does not reflect the PTI founder’s position.

She said Imran Khan has conveyed a message to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership to pursue a street movement.