ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) announced that it will no longer engage in any kind of dialogue with the government.
This was relayed by PTI chairman Barrister Ali Gohar while talking to media outside the Adiala Jail. He said that PTI founder Imran Khan has decided that we will not hold any negotiations with the government as it has become a futile exercise.
He stressed that the government had announced setting up of a judicial commission, and given seven days have passed, without any progress, that spoke volumes about government’s interest in holding the talks: “It was our wish that talks would be successful, but there are so many differences that ice cannot be melted.”
On Wednesday, PTI had refused to attend the fourth round of talks with the government until the formation of the judicial commission.
PTI senior leader Omar Ayub had announced that the party would not participate in the upcoming fourth round of talks with the ruling coalition, deeming the process “useless” without the formation of a judicial commission.
“A judicial commission must be constituted before the fourth round of talks,” he stated, adding that the party would not engage in further negotiations with the government until this demand is met.
During the third round of discussions held on January 16, PTI had submitted its demands in writing to the government’s negotiation committee. These included a judicial probe into the incidents of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, as well as the release of “political prisoners.”
Barrister Gohar on Wednesday also wrote on his X referring to the statement made by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif about Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir’s meeting with PTI that Asif should focus on improving relationship between the committees.
Earlier when Imran Khan was asked if a meeting between PTI chairman and army chief was held, Khan had first reluctantly replied he had no details in this regard. However, later he confirmed the meeting and said that this is a positive development and is good for the stability of Pakistan.
“We had never closed the doors of negotiations. The establishment should talk to us. I am an advocate of talks. But the other side was reluctant”, Imran Khan said. Now if talks have begun, they will be for Pakistan’s stability, he said.
Given the former premier has given orders to call off talks with government again, the situation is yet again in a limbo.