RAWALPINDI:
Talks aimed at reducing simmering political tensions between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government remained deadlocked on Monday, with both sides locked in a game of brinkmanship despite two rounds of parliaments.
A day after the government criticized the opposition party for changing goals, icebreaking efforts appeared to be going in circles as neither side showed any intention of blinking first, instead trading accusations of tongue-tied bifida.
Furthermore, the already nervous PTI leaders expressed growing distrust and accused the government of insincerity and using delaying tactics to gain advantage. They demanded a meeting between their negotiating team and party founder Imran Khan before proceeding with the third round of talks.
Imran’s legal team also faced challenges in the ongoing negotiations as they were unable to meet Imran directly to discuss key points. However, despite all this, several PTI leaders ruled out any talk of clandestine talks or an agreement.
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan accused the government of trying to force Imran to accept an NRO-style deal, first by trying to send him abroad for three years and then by offering him house arrest in exchange for silence. She dismissed rumors of behind-the-scenes negotiations and reiterated that Imran was focused on proving his innocence and would challenge any conviction in a higher court.
Despite two rounds of talks, PTI negotiators, including chairman Advocate Gohar Ali Khan, are yet to gain access to Imran and stress the importance of consulting him before moving forward in talks with the government.
Lawyer Gohar said the negotiating team wanted to meet the party’s jailed founder before the third round of negotiations, adding that the government committee had already been informed of their demand. He also dismissed rumors of clandestine negotiations or Bushra Bibi’s involvement in the process.
Advocate Gohar said the party founder had fixed a clear timeline regarding the release of prisoners and formation of a judicial commission. “We were hoping for a meeting today, but there is no confirmation yet. We hope to meet with him on Tuesday (today),” he added.
Responding to speculation about Bushra Bibi’s involvement, he categorically denied such claims and reiterated that only the negotiation committee formed by the PTI founder was authorized to hold talks. “There have been no meetings beyond the two formal rounds of negotiations,” he clarified.
Jail Meeting Request
Meanwhile, the PTI’s legal team submitted a written request to the Adiala jail authorities, seeking permission for the party’s negotiation committee to meet the PTI founder before the third round of talks. The petition urged that the meeting be held in an open environment rather than in a confined room.
Presented during a hearing for Toshakhana’s reference, the application emphasized the importance of this meeting to ensure that the negotiation process moves forward. However, the prison authorities are yet to respond to the request, according to PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry. “We are hopeful that the administration will act promptly and facilitate the meeting,” he said.
‘Political juggling’
Similarly, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram denounced the Punjab government and other “political jugglers” for making “meaningless statements aimed at disturbing the political environment to create an excuse to stop the ongoing political dialogue.” “.
He said the “cronies of the mandate-stealing government” should not doubt the PTI’s intentions regarding the parliaments, saying the “talks have not moved forward due to the coercive and unserious attitude” of the fascist regime.
Waqas urged the government to “control the rebel elements” within its own ranks, who were determined to sabotage the negotiation process and had become major obstacles to its success.
He said the PTI’s commitment to resolving the current political deadlock was clear when Imran Khan took the initiative to form an empowered negotiation committee, but “the fascist regime did not respond” with the same seriousness.
Waqas went on to say that the authoritarian government had unleashed its “political pranksters” to unfairly attack the PTI, diverting attention from its own ineptitude and impotence, to undermine dialogue. He said the PTI should not be blamed for changing the objectives as its demands had been very clear and consistent since the beginning of the dialogue process.
Waqas emphasized that it was up to the government to lower the political temperature and “ensure uninterrupted access to the illegally imprisoned PTI founder” to receive his regular input on the negotiation process because only he could make final decisions.
The PTI leader further urged the government to fulfill its commitment and immediately facilitate a meeting between the PTI negotiating team and Imran Khan, avoiding unnecessary confusion to help lift the country out of a quagmire of problems.
