Irfan Siddiqui Expresses Concerns Over Delayed Demands from PTI in Ongoing Negotiations
Siddiqui Warns of Negotiation Obstacles if PTI Fails to Submit Written Demands
Islamabad — Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) parliamentary party in the Senate and spokesperson for the government’s negotiating team, expressed concerns over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s failure to submit its written demands as agreed during initial talks.
In an exclusive interview with a private TV channel (Dawn), Senator Siddiqui highlighted that despite a 12-day delay since the first meeting on December 23, the PTI had yet to present its ‘Charter of Demands’ in written form. He explained that PTI had initially pledged to provide their demands in writing, as outlined in the joint communiqué of the first meeting. However, the demands were not submitted by January 2, 2025, as promised.
“We are honoring our commitment by facilitating the PTI negotiation team to meet with Imran Khan, but despite agreeing on the issue, PTI is still hesitant about submitting their demands in written form,” said Siddiqui. He emphasized that this ongoing hesitation could complicate the negotiation process if not addressed in the upcoming meetings.
Siddiqui further explained that the PTI team had been given another opportunity to consult with Imran Khan before finalizing their written demands, but warned that continued delays could lead to difficulties in the negotiation process. “If the demands are not presented in written form during the third meeting, it will undoubtedly create obstacles in the negotiations,” he added.
Regarding the matter of political prisoners, Siddiqui responded to PTI’s request for the release of Imran Khan and other detainees, stating that the designation of a “political prisoner” depended on the nature of the crime, not the individual’s identity. He gave an example, stating, “If I were a member of the Senate and committed murder, I would not be labeled a political prisoner. This exemption does not apply to the President either.”
The Senator also discussed PTI’s other demands, including the formation of judicial commissions for the release of prisoners and the search for 45 missing individuals. However, Siddiqui pointed out that PTI had failed to provide details about these missing individuals, complicating the government’s ability to investigate. “We were told that PTI has no list of these missing persons. How can the government trace people when PTI itself does not have their details?” he questioned.
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Siddiqui clarified that the government had not made any requests in return and that there was no official offer for the transfer of Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to his residence in Bani Gala. He also dismissed claims of any parallel negotiations, assuring that there was no hidden process occurring behind the scenes.
Finally, he stated that the date for the third round of negotiations would be determined by PTI, as they were responsible for setting up the meeting.
The ongoing negotiations between the government and PTI remain at a critical juncture, with both sides hoping for progress in resolving key issues.
