Rana Sanaullah, political advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, announced on Thursday that after extensive negotiations, the PTI has withdrawn its demand for its electoral mandate to be returned.
Sanaullah revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee to address the written demands filed by the opposition. The committee will work closely with the government’s allied parties and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to ensure a comprehensive response to the PTI’s requests.
The third round of talks between the two sides took place on Thursday where the PTI delegation, led by senior leaders including Omar Ayub, formally submitted their demands in writing.
One of the main demands raised by the PTI in these negotiations was the establishment of two commissions of inquiry: one to investigate the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, which sparked riots across the country, and another to investigate incidents that occurred between November 24 and 24, 2023. November 27, 2024.
The demand includes investigating police and military involvement in Imran Khan’s arrest and subsequent violence, as well as examining CCTV footage related to the events of May 9.
Addressing a joint press conference with Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Sanaullah mentioned that the PTI’s other major demand revolved around political cases filed against party leaders and supporters. The PTI sought access to detailed records of FIRs lodged against political activists, but the government claimed that the PTI had not provided such details during the talks.
While the PTI had earlier insisted on returning its mandate through fresh elections, Rana Sanaullah confirmed that the opposition party had backtracked on this demand, marking a change in its stance.
He added that despite the withdrawal of the mandate demand, the PTI’s stand on other matters, including inquiry commissions, remained firm.
The PTI had also earlier expressed concern over the fabrication of “political cases” against its members, a claim that led to further debates on the issue.
In his briefing, Rana Sanaullah clarified that the government had set up a committee that would work with the opposition to finalize a response, the outcome of which would be binding.
The formation of the committee came after the PTI submitted its demands in writing for the first time. This third round of negotiations was expected to address some of the critical issues that have kept Pakistan in a prolonged political deadlock.
Omar Ayub, key negotiator of the PTI, also highlighted during the media interaction that the government had promised to give a response within seven days.
He claimed that the government had agreed to organize a meeting between PTI leaders and Imran Khan to take the discussions forward.
Ayub emphasized that while the talks were ongoing, the PTI remained optimistic about resolving the country’s political crisis and restoring normalcy.
In addition to these developments, PTI leader Asad Qaiser and other party members expressed concern over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, specifically in relation to the destabilization of the region.
He argued that given the complex situation in the province, it was crucial to engage in dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to address these issues comprehensively.
Meanwhile, Mahmood Achakzai, a senior politician, called for national unity, urging all institutions and political forces to align with the Constitution and work together to safeguard the future of Pakistan.
He stressed that the country could only be saved if everyone followed the principles set out in the Constitution, and those who opposed it would be held accountable.
Talks between the government and the PTI are aimed at resolving the current political crisis, but there has been no substantial progress so far.
The government has indicated its willingness to consider opposition concerns, but the situation remains fluid and both sides await further developments.
