ISLAMABAD:
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a PML-N leader who has also been appointed spokesperson of a government committee holding talks with the PTI, has said that the government panel will only consider written demands of the PTI without paying attention to the statements of Imran Khan or any other person. .
“Both the committees [belong to the PML- and the PTI] has decided to ignore external influences and statements in the process of talks during their first meeting. Our negotiation committee will only consider the written demands of the PTI,” Siddiqui said.
The PML-N leader spoke on a private television channel on Thursday.
The senator said that the initiation of talks with the PTI and the formation of the government negotiation committee were approved by PML-N president Nawaz Sharif.
He said the Home Ministry was sent on the first day to facilitate meetings between PTI negotiating committee members and PTI founder Imran Khan, who is detained in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. This facilitation will also continue in the future, he added.
“The atmosphere was very positive and it was a great opening,” Senator Siddiqui said when asked about the details of the first meeting.
He said the mere fact that the PTI and the PML-N sat together is a big step forward.
“As the PTI has also been in the government, it is well aware of the constitutional and legal requirements to release someone from jail through an executive order,” he said.
When asked about Thursday’s conviction of 60 PTI workers by military courts and its possible impact on the dialogue process, he said both sides had agreed that the dialogue process will continue irrespective of the sentences or any other developments.
“I don’t think the recent military court verdict will hinder the talks,” he added.
He also did not agree with the argument that keeping Imran Khan behind bars was an obstacle in the talks. He said many prominent political leaders had been in prison for a long time and yet the democratic process had never stalled.
He rejected the impression that there was any political unrest in the country. “All state bodies function according to constitutional harmony and economic indicators prove it. There is absolutely no political instability in the country,” he added.
Senator Siddiqui thanked Imran Khan for “recognising” the government’s efforts to save the country from default and said the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team are so obvious that even Imran Khan is forced to acknowledge them.
When asked about US diplomat Richard Allen Grenell’s tweets and statements, Senator Siddiqui said Pakistan’s policies are not based on such posts. “He is not an entity. The State of Pakistan decides issues according to the constitution and law of the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif appointed Senator Irfan Siddiqui as spokesperson for the government committee holding talks with the PTI.
