ISLAMABAD: The negotiation committees of the government and the opposition have come together to hold talks under National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s chair on the political landscape of the country and the way forward.
The committees were formed yesterday, after the NA Speaker suggested to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to form a negotiating committee.
The NA speaker conveyed that the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also formed a committee to hold talks with the government, as told by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar. The PM formed a committee comprising of the ruling coalition, and the PTI welcomed the move.
Also read: PM forms negotiation committee following NA speaker, PTI chairman’s suggestions
Yesterday, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had invited both committees to his chambers at 11:30 AM. As per latest reports the committees have arrived at the speaker’s chambers and the talks have begun.
Sources familiar with the events said that the meeting began with prayers for the success of the talks.
On the occasion, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said, “My job is to facilitate the talks. I am not in touch with the establishment but with the Prime Minister and the opposition”.
“The government and the opposition coming together will strengthen democracy,” NA Speaker said, adding, “Negotiations are the only solution to political problems in a democracy.” He said that this country is ours and the people have elected us and sent us to solve their problems. As public representatives, we have to find solutions to the problems of the people, he added.
Ayaz Sadiq said that with cordial relations between the government and the opposition, the country’s problems can be resolved amicably. “The country’s economic development depends on political stability,” he said.
The opposition was represented by PTI member and former speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI’s allied party Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) Raja Nasir Abbas.
From the government’s side, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah and Irfan Siddiqui from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) participated, along with Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Raja Pervez Ashraf and Naveed Qamar.
INCARCERATED PTI FOUNDER TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP
Yesterday, PTI’s Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram had said that while PTI welcomes the government’s formation of the negotiating committee, the party will also have to keep the party founder and incarcerated former PM Imran Khan on the updates.
Imran Khan has announced a civil disobedience movement and has threatened with the deadline of Sunday (yesterday). However, yesterday both the government and the opposition showed willingness to hold negotiations, which is perhaps why the civil disobedience movement has been delayed.
Also read: PTI accepts NA Speaker’s invitation for negotiations
On the other hand, former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry expressed displeasure over these updates with a post on X, formerly Twitter, and called the current PTI leadership “compromised”. He said yesterday that he will meet with Imran Khan in Adiala jail and suggest that the current leadership be removed, because they are benefitting by keeping Imran in jail.
This is a developing story.