PTI Negotiation Committee Sees Progress, Demands Judicial Commission

By DTD- On Jan 12, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiation committee announced significant progress in its ongoing talks with the government contingent on the formation of a judicial commission. This development came after a crucial meeting between PTI founder Imran Khan and committee members on Sunday, which followed the third round of stalled government-opposition discussions.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met Imran Khan in a one-on-one session for an hour and a half within the conference room at Adiala Jail. Meanwhile, other committee members, along with four visitors, waited in the administrative block. The meeting, which was followed by a one-hour discussion between Imran Khan and all five committee members, resulted in a series of important revelations to the media.

Notably, two members of the seven-person committee, Salman Akram Raja and Hamid Khan, were absent, having notified the committee the night before of their unavailability. After the meeting, Sahibzada Hamid Raza Khan, a member of the negotiation committee, addressed the press, raising concerns about the controlled environment of the meeting. He expressed dissatisfaction with the restrictive nature of the discussions but emphasized that specific guidelines for the ongoing negotiations were provided by the PTI founder.

Raza reiterated the PTI’s demand for the establishment of a neutral judicial commission to investigate the events of 9 May and 26 November, with the involvement of senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. “We are ready for the next round of discussions, but the government must come prepared with a judicial commission,” he said. He stressed that the formation of the commission was the first and most critical step, without which further negotiations could not proceed.

The PTI committee member also indicated that the deadline for the talks remained set at 31 January, with Raza adding, “Only the party founder has the authority to extend it.” He also clarified that the PTI founder had emphasized the release of PTI workers over any personal considerations regarding his own freedom. “This demand comes from his supporters, not from him,” Raza explained. “Imran Khan has made it clear that he will face the legal cases against him and will not seek any executive orders or special concessions for his release.”

Raza also discussed the potential fallout from the ongoing legal challenges, particularly concerning the £190 million reference. “If the verdict goes against us, tensions could escalate,” he warned. However, he confirmed that Imran Khan had given the committee full authority, with opposition leader Omar Ayub set to sign the charter of demand.

The PTI’s focus remains on securing the release of its detained workers while negotiating a transparent and neutral judicial commission, with the government’s response anticipated as the deadline approaches.