ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has welcomed the formation of a negotiation committee by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks with the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The Prime Minister’s initiative to resolve issues through talks is a welcome move, the NA speaker said. He said that he has invited the government and the opposition to hold talks in good faith. “The doors of the Speaker’s office are always open to members,” Ayaz Sadiq said, adding that progress can only be made through talks.
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“I have invited the members of both committees to meet tomorrow at 11:30 AM,” Ayaz Sadiq said, adding, “I have called both committees so that the process of talks can be taken forward.”
The NA speaker will the members of both the committees in his chamber tomorrow.
PM FORMED COMMITTEE AFTER PTI CONVEYED INTENT FOR TALKS
Earlier today, Prime Minister Sharif had constituted a negotiation committee comprising members of the coalition parties to hold talks with the PTI. The move came after NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq suggested to the PM to form the committee.
Yesterday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had expressed PTI’s willingness to hold talks with the government. The speaker informed the premier that PTI had also formed a committee for negotiations, and therefore the government should do the same.
On Sunday morning, PM Shehbaz announced the formation of the committee, comprising Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Abdul Aleem Khan, Chaudhry Salik and Sardar Khalid Magsi.
Now the two committees are scheduled to meet tomorrow (Monday) in the NA Speaker’s chambers.
PTI WELCOMED PM’S MOVE
Earlier today, Barrister Gohar also welcomed the formation of the committee by the prime minister. He said, “The negotiations between the government and the PTI should be comprehensive and fruitful,” adding, “Hopefully, a fruitful solution to all the issues will be found in the shortest possible time.”
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He said that there are serious people on both sides and expressed hope that negotiations will “definitely move forward”.