The federal government has formally rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demand that a judicial commission be set up to probe the events of May 9, 2023, citing legal and procedural limitations, Express News reported on Monday.
According to government sources, the negotiation committee reviewed the PTI’s written letter of demands submitted during the third round of talks and finally decided not to form a judicial commission.
Officials argue that cases related to the May 9 incidents are already being prosecuted in court, making further investigations redundant.
“Judicial committees cannot be constituted for matters subject to active judicial proceedings,” a senior official said, dismissing PTI’s claims of illegal detentions and political prisoners.
The PTI had submitted a detailed list of demands, including setting up of two separate commissions under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017.
The first commission was to investigate the legality of Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 and assess the circumstances that led to his detention.
The second aimed to investigate subsequent violence, including attacks on military installations, desecration of memorials and damage to public property.
PTI also sought transparency by requesting that the commission’s proceedings be open to the public and media. He called for the immediate release of political leaders and workers detained in connection with the incidents.
The government has categorically stated that the May 9 incidents were part of a “premeditated plan to attack military installations”, highlighting the attacks on the Headquarters and the house of the Corps Commander in Lahore.
The government maintains that these acts of vandalism and arson were not spontaneous protests but deliberate attempts to undermine state institutions.
Sources confirm that the government’s negotiating team will provide a formal written response to the PTI in the fourth round of talks. However, the rejection by a judicial commission is expected to deepen the rift between both sides.
Amid reports of a finalized government response, Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiating team, denied the claims, calling them “baseless”. In a statement on social media, Siddiqui clarified: “Coalition parties are still consulting and a unified response may take another week to finalize.”
He dismissed speculation that the government had rejected the PTI’s demands without further deliberation, and urged the media to avoid spreading misinformation.
The PTI had issued an ultimatum demanding the formation of the committees within seven days. With the deadline approaching, party leaders have warned of stopping further talks if no progress is made. “If the government does not create the commission, there will not be a fourth meeting,” PTI representatives said.
Meanwhile, the government insists that dialogue can only take place within the legal framework. This firm stance has added to the growing uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the negotiations, as both sides refuse to compromise.
Upholding national interest in talks with PTI, Nawaz tells PM
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Sunday urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to maintain supreme national interest in the ongoing negotiations with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). .
According to a statement issued by the ruling party, Shehbaz briefed the former prime minister and his elder brother about the talks process, besides other important issues, including the current political and economic situation in the country.
According to Express News, the meeting took place at Jati Umra, which was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The meeting lasted two hours, the report said, adding that Nawaz emphasized the need for national unity in the current circumstances.
“We all have to work together for the country,” Nawaz said during the meeting, according to Express News. Regarding talks with the PTI, Nawaz told Shehbaz Sharif to maintain the country’s interest above all in the negotiations.
According to the PML-N statement, important political and national issues were discussed in the meeting and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed Nawaz Sharif about the political and economic situation of the country and consulted him on important issues.
During the discussions, the PML-N top leadership was informed that the government’s efforts to address the country’s economic problems had borne fruit and that inflation had decreased significantly. “Attendees were informed that the situation is moving in a positive direction,” the statement read.
