The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted its “Letter of Demands” to the Government, calling for the creation of a judicial commission to examine the events of May 9 and November 26.
The written demands, which were shared with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, also include a call for the release of currently imprisoned political leaders and workers.
The letter, written by Omar Ayub in his capacity as opposition leader and head of the PTI negotiation committee, outlines two main demands.
The first demand stipulates that the government set up two separate commissions under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017, which will be headed by the Chief Justice or three sitting judges of the Supreme Court. PTI insists that these commissions be formed within 7 days, with procedures open to the public and the media.
A commission is specifically tasked with investigating the legality of Imran Khan’s arrest, including the actions of the Rangers and the police at the Islamabad High Court. It will also investigate incidents that occurred across the country after Khan’s arrest, including investigating CCTV footage from sensitive locations and the treatment of those arrested during the May 9 protests.
The second part of the PTI’s demands focuses on media censorship, restrictions on information and the government’s shutdown of the Internet during the incidents. PTI has demanded accountability for these actions and seeks clarity on their legal and social impacts.
Additionally, the letter includes demands for the immediate release of political prisoners, particularly those arrested in connection with the events of May 9, and a review of multiple FIRs registered against people involved in the protests.
The development follows two previous dialogue sessions held on December 27, 2024 and January 2, 2025. The third round of talks, scheduled for 11:30 am today in Parliament, was called by the president of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
This much-awaited step comes after the PTI negotiation committee visited former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The meeting, which had earlier been delayed due to the party’s inability to meet its leader, paved the way for today’s talks.
The party has set a deadline of January 31, 2025 for negotiations to reach a “logical conclusion”, although Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah has suggested extending it to February 28.
